grant retired as head coach after the 1983 season, and was replaced by receivers coach les steckel in january 1984. however, under steckel, the team had their worst season to date, only managing to win three of their 16 games in 1984. after steckel was fired, grant was coaxed out of retirement to replace him for the 1985 season. after grant's second retirement, vikings assistant coach jerry burns was named as his successor. burns' tenure as head coach lasted for six seasons, including three playoff appearances, one of which resulted in a loss to the washington redskins in the 1987 nfc championship game.