| The Minnesota Vikings are a professional | | | | with 227 yards. The Vikings played the |
| American football team based in Minneapolis, | | | | Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship |
| Minnesota. They are currently members of the | | | | Game on January 17, 1988, at RFK Stadium. |
| North Division of the National Football Conference | | | | Trailing 17-10, the Vikings drove to the Redskins' |
| (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). | | | | 6-yard line with a little over a minute left in the |
| Originally, the ownership group was to have a | | | | game but failed to get the ball into the end zone. |
| team in the American Football League, but | | | | The Vikings would make what would be |
| withdrew from the AFL and agreed to join the | | | | considered its biggest personnel blunder in team |
| NFL as a 1961 expansion team. | | | | history. On October 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired |
| The Vikings have won their division 16 times, and | | | | Herschel Walker from Dallas. The final result of |
| became the first team to appear in four Super | | | | the trade gave the Vikings Walker, a 3rd (Mike |
| Bowls, but the club also became the first one to | | | | Jones), 5th (Reggie Thornton) and 10th-round |
| lose four Super Bowls. | | | | choice (Pat Newman) in 1990 and a 3rd-round |
| The Vikings are currently owned by a Zygi Wilf, | | | | choice in 1991 (Jake Reed), while Dallas received |
| Mark Wilf, Jeffrey Wilf, Leonard Wilf, David | | | | Issiac Holt, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Jesse |
| Mandelbaum, Alan Landis and Reggie Fowler. The | | | | Solomon, Alex Stewart, a 1st, 2nd and 6th-round |
| Vikings conduct summer training camp at | | | | choice in 1990, a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1991 |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato. | | | | and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round choice in 1992. Two |
| The pro football saga in the Twin Cities began in | | | | of those selections turned into Emmitt Smith and |
| August 1959, when three Minneapolis businessmen | | | | Darren Woodson. Herschel's performance fell |
| Bill Boyer, H. P. | | | | short of expectations in his 3 seasons with the |
| Skoglund and Max Winter were awarded a | | | | Vikings, while the Cowboys rode their draft picks |
| franchise in the new American Football League. | | | | to 3 Super Bowl victories in the early to mid |
| Five months later in January 1960, the ownership | | | | 1990s. |
| group along with Bernie Ridder first forfeited its | | | | 1990s On December 3, 1991, Jerry Burns |
| AFL membership and then was awarded the | | | | announced his retirement. In 6 seasons as Head |
| National Football League's 14th franchise that was | | | | Coach of the Vikings, Burns compiled a career |
| to begin play in 1961. Ole Haugsrud was added to | | | | record of 52-43 (.547). |
| the NFL team ownership because of an | | | | He also led Minnesota to 3 playoff appearances, |
| agreement he had with the NFL since the 1920s | | | | including a division title and an NFC Championship |
| when he sold his Duluth Eskimos team back to | | | | Game. |
| the league. The agreement allowed him 10 % of | | | | On January 10, 1992, Dennis Green was named |
| any future Minnesota team. | | | | the 5th Head Coach in team history. |
| 1960s Minnesota's first management team was | | | | He came to Minnesota after turning around a |
| led by general manager Bert Rose and head | | | | struggling Stanford University football program as |
| coach Norm Van Brocklin. From the start, the | | | | head coach from 1989-91. |
| Vikings embraced an energetic marketing | | | | In his 10 seasons as the coach of the Vikings, he |
| program that produced a first-year season ticket | | | | won 4 NFC Central division titles, had 8 playoff |
| sale of nearly 26,000 and an average home | | | | appearances, 2 NFC Championship game |
| attendance of 34,586, about 85 percent of the | | | | appearances and an all-time record of 97-62. |
| capacity of 40,800 Metropolitan Stadium. | | | | In 1998, with an offense led by Randall |
| Eventually the stadium capacity was increased to | | | | Cunningham, who had his best season ever, Cris |
| 47,900. The Vikings won their first regular season | | | | Carter, and explosive rookie Randy Moss, the |
| game as they beat the Chicago Bears 37-13 on | | | | Vikings set an NFL record by scoring a total of |
| Opening Day 1961. Rose resigned from his position | | | | 556 points, never scoring fewer than 24 in a |
| in 1964 and Van Brocklin quit abruptly in the spring | | | | game. The Vikings finished the season 15-1, their |
| of 1967. The Vikings went to Canada to get their | | | | only loss by 3 points to the Tampa Bay |
| replacements. Jim Finks, then general manager of | | | | Buccaneers. In the playoffs, the Vikings rolled past |
| the Calgary Stampeders, was named as the new | | | | the Arizona Cardinals and came into the |
| general manager. Bud Grant, head coach of the | | | | Metrodome heavily favored for their NFC title |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings | | | | showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, who had |
| field leader. | | | | finished 14-2. |
| On March 7, 1967, quarterback Fran Tarkenton | | | | However, Gary Anderson, who had not missed a |
| was traded to the New York Giants for a 1st and | | | | field goal all season, missed a 38-yard attempt |
| 2nd-round choice in 1967, a 1st-round choice in '68 | | | | with less than 2 minutes remaining. That allowed |
| and a 2nd-round choice in '69. With the picks | | | | the Falcons to tie the game and then win it 30-27 |
| Minnesota selected Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in | | | | in overtime on Morten Andersen's field goal, which |
| '67, Ron Yary in '68 and Ed White in '69. | | | | was ironically, also a 38-yarder. |
| During the late 1960's, the Vikings we're building a | | | | The Vikings became the first 15-1 team to fail to |
| powerful defense known as the Purple People | | | | reach the Super Bowl. |
| Eaters, led by Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larson, | | | | Led by first-year starting quarterback Daunte |
| and Jim Marshall, in 1968, their stingy defense | | | | Culpepper, the Vikings would return to the NFC |
| earned the Vikings their fist Central Division Title | | | | Championship Game again in 2000, but lost again |
| and their first playoff berth. | | | | as they were humiliated 41-0 by the New York |
| The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-7, | | | | Giants in the Meadowlands. |
| in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 4, 1970, at | | | | 2000s Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in |
| Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota became the 1st | | | | the summer of 2001, when Offensive Lineman |
| modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL | | | | Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training |
| Championship Game, which gave them a berth to | | | | camp in Mankato, Minnesota. Although Minnesota |
| the Super Bowl which the heavily favored Vikings | | | | has a reputation for cold weather, in late July and |
| dropped to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7. | | | | early August it can be brutally hot. |
| 1970s The team continue to shine in 1970 and | | | | That same year, Dennis Green, who had become |
| 1971 as their Purple People Eater defense led | | | | a polarizing force in the Viking fan base despite his |
| them back to the playoffs, in 1971, the defense | | | | successful coaching tenure with the team, had his |
| was so impressive that Alan Page became the | | | | contract bought out after a 5-10 season. Mike |
| first defensive player to win the NFL Most | | | | Tice coached the final game of 2001. |
| Valuable Player. | | | | 2002-2003 On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was |
| In 1972 the Vikings traded Norm Snead, Bob | | | | named the sixth Head Coach in Vikings history. |
| Grim, Vince Clements and a 1st-round choice in | | | | Tice was the third of the six Vikings Head |
| '72 and '73 to the New York Giants to reacquire | | | | Coaches to be promoted from within the team's |
| the popular Tarkenton. | | | | coaching ranks but was the first to have actually |
| On January 13, 1974, the Vikings played in the | | | | played for the Vikings. |
| 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history against the | | | | In Tice's first season, the Vikings had a dismal |
| Miami Dolphins at Rice Stadium in Houston, TX. | | | | 6-10 record, which he turned around in 2003 with |
| The Dolphins prevailed, 24-7. Minnesota earned the | | | | a fast 6-0 start. |
| trip to Super Bowl VIII by defeating Dallas, 27-10, | | | | However, the Vikings ended up going 3-7 the rest |
| in the NFC Championship game. | | | | of the season, missing the playoffs with a last |
| The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super | | | | second touchdown reception by the Arizona |
| Bowl (3rd overall), losing to the Pittsburgh | | | | Cardinals' receiver Nate Poole. Green Bay won the |
| Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans | | | | division at 10-6, while the Vikings were 9-7. |
| on January 12, 1975. Minnesota earned a trip to | | | | Ironically, the following season the Cardinals hired |
| Super Bowl IX by defeating the Los Angeles | | | | Dennis Green as their Head Coach. |
| Rams, 14-10, at Metropolitan Stadium on | | | | 2004 History repeated itself in 2004 as the |
| December 29, 1974. | | | | Vikings went 3-7 over the last 10 weeks, but this |
| In 1975, the Vikings, led by Tarkenton and running | | | | time they made the playoffs despite only going |
| back Chuck Foreman, got off to a 10-0 start and | | | | 8-8. Daunte Culpepper had a MVP-like season, |
| easily won another division title. Some Viking | | | | amassing 4,717 passing yards (which led the NFL), |
| historians called those 1975 Vikings as the best | | | | 39 passing touchdowns (a Viking record), and |
| Viking team ever.[citation needed] However, the | | | | 5,123 total yards, breaking Dan Marino's mark. The |
| Vikings lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, | | | | Vikings made history in the playoffs by beating |
| 17-14, on a controversial touchdown pass from | | | | their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in their first |
| the Cowboys' quarterback Roger Staubach to | | | | ever playoff meeting. They also became the |
| wide receiver Drew Pearson that became known | | | | second team in NFL history to go .500 (8-8) in the |
| as the Hail Mary. | | | | regular season and then win a playoff game, one |
| The Vikings played in their 3rd Super Bowl (4th | | | | day after the St. |
| overall) in 4 years against the Oakland Raiders at | | | | Louis Rams accomplished the feat. In that game, |
| the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on January | | | | wide receiver Randy Moss pretended to moon a |
| 9, 1977. | | | | crowd of Packers fans after a touchdown and |
| The Vikings however, couldn't break its bad luck in | | | | was fined $10,000. They would lose to the |
| the Super Bowl. Minnesota lost, 32-14. The Vikings | | | | eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles the |
| earned a trip to Super Bowl XI by defeating the | | | | following week 27-14. |
| Rams, 24-13, at Metropolitan Stadium on | | | | 2005 The following offseason, Minnesota traded |
| December 26, 1976, in what ended up being the | | | | the hero of that Green Bay game (and arguably |
| last Vikings playoff game at the Met. | | | | their best player), WR Randy Moss, to the |
| On January 1, 1978, the Vikings played Dallas | | | | Oakland Raiders for linebacker Napoleon Harris and |
| Cowboys in their 4th NFC Championship Game in | | | | the Raiders' first and seventh round picks of the |
| 5 years at Texas Stadium. Minnesota lost to the | | | | 2005 NFL Draft. With the first round pick (number |
| eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6. | | | | 7) they selected WR Troy Williamson of South |
| 1980s On May 15, 1981, the Vikings moved into a | | | | Carolina. With the salary cap now freed, the |
| new facility in Eden Prairie that houses the team's | | | | Vikings also signed 5 new defensive starters to |
| offices, locker room and practice fields. The | | | | shore up their previously 28th ranked defense. |
| complex was named "Winter Park" after Max | | | | The Vikings fan base wondered if this was the |
| Winter, one of the Vikings founders who served | | | | franchise's biggest blunder in team history or one |
| as the team's president from 1965-87. | | | | of their greatest moves. |
| The Vikings played their 1st game at the | | | | At first, the move looked like a blunder. The |
| Metrodome in a preseason matchup against | | | | Vikings started off by losing their first two games |
| Seattle on Aug. 21, 1982. Minnesota prevailed, 7-3. | | | | to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24-13) and the |
| The 1st touchdown in the new facility was scored | | | | Cincinnati Bengals (37-8). They would win in Week |
| by Joe Senser on an 11-yard pass from Tommy | | | | 3 against the New Orleans Saints (33-16), but then |
| Kramer. The 1st regular-season game in the | | | | they would go on to lose their next two road |
| Metrodome was the 1982 opener on September | | | | games to the Atlanta Falcons (30-10) and their |
| 12, when the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay, 17-10. | | | | division rival Chicago Bears (28-3). The Vikings |
| Rickey Young scored the 1st regular-season | | | | would win at home against fellow division rival |
| touchdown in the facility on a 3-yard run in the | | | | Green Bay Packers 23-20 by winning the same |
| 2nd quarter. | | | | way the Packers did last season, which was a last |
| On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as Head | | | | second field goal. However, the Vikes had little to |
| Coach of the Vikings. In 17 seasons Grant led | | | | celebrate when in the next week, not only did |
| Minnesota to 12 playoff appearances, 11 division | | | | they lose to the Carolina Panthers 38-13 on the |
| titles and 4 Super Bowls. His career regular-season | | | | road, but they would also lose their star QB |
| record was 151-87-5 (.632). The person that | | | | Daunte Culpepper for the season with a knee |
| would take his place would be Les Steckel. | | | | injury. Taking his place would be Brad Johnson |
| Les Steckel, who was an offensive assistant with | | | | (Viking from 1994-98 and quarterback of the |
| the Vikings for 5 seasons, was named the 3rd | | | | Super Bowl XXXVII champion Buccaneers) and |
| head coach in franchise history on January 29, | | | | ever since he took over, he led the Vikings to a |
| 1984. | | | | six-game winning streak, including victories over |
| Steckel, who came to the Vikings in 1979 after | | | | the Detroit Lions at home (27-14), the New York |
| working as an assistant with the 49ers, was the | | | | Giants (24-21), the Green Bay Packers at |
| youngest head coach in the NFL in 1984 at age | | | | Lambeau Field (20-17 and also on a last second |
| 38. | | | | field goal), the Cleveland Browns (24-12), the |
| After Steckel's dismal season, he was fired and | | | | Detroit Lions at Ford Field (21-16), and a 27-13 |
| on December 18, 1984, Bud Grant was re-hired | | | | home victory over the St. Louis Rams. The |
| as the head coach of the Vikings. | | | | streak ended with an 18-3 loss to the Pittsburgh |
| On January 6, 1986, following the 1985 season, | | | | Steelers. Christmas Day 2005 will go down as a |
| Bud Grant re-retired as head coach of the Vikings. | | | | day Viking fans would much rather forget. After |
| At the time of his retirement he was the 6th | | | | having their chances of winning the NFC North |
| winningest coach in NFL history with 168 career | | | | extinguished when the Bears defeated the |
| wins, including playoffs. In 18 seasons he led the | | | | Packers earlier in the day, the Vikings were |
| Vikings to a 158-96-5 regular season record. | | | | officially eliminated from NFC playoff contention |
| Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns was | | | | with a 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The |
| named the 4th head coach in team history on | | | | Vikings won their last game of the 2005 season |
| January 7, 1986. He served as the Vikings | | | | against the Bears, with a 34-10 victory. |
| offensive coordinator from 1968-85, when the | | | | However, the Vikings fired head coach Mike Tice |
| team won 11 division titles and played in 4 Super | | | | immediately following the game. |
| Bowls. In his first season, the Vikings led by the | | | | On January 6th, 2006, the Vikings were the first |
| NFL Comeback Player of the Year Tommy | | | | football organization to hire a new head coach |
| Kramer, went 9-7, their first winning record in 4 | | | | during the 2006 offseason, Brad Childress. |
| years. In his second season, he led the Vikings to | | | | Childress previously held the offensive coordinator |
| the NFC championship game. | | | | position at the Philadelphia Eagles from 2002-2005 |
| Following the strike-shortened 1987 season, the | | | | and at the University of Wisconsin from |
| 8-7 Vikings pulled two huge upsets in the playoffs | | | | 1993-1999 under Barry Alvarez. |
| by beating the two teams with the best regular | | | | 2006 In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Vikings used |
| season records. They beat the 12-3 New Orleans | | | | their first pick on Iowa LB Chad Greenway. They |
| Saints, 44-10, at the Superdome in the Wild Card | | | | then used their next pick on Texas CB Cedric |
| Playoff game. The following week, in the Divisional | | | | Griffin. The rest of their picks on New Mexico |
| Playoff game, they beat the 13-2 San Francisco | | | | Center Ryan Cook, Alabama St. QB Tarvaris |
| 49ers, 36-24, at Candlestick Park. During that | | | | Jackson, Purdue DE Ray Edwards, and Georgia |
| game Anthony Carter (football) set the all-time | | | | Safety Greg Blue. |
| record for most receiving yards in a playoff game | | | | |