The Minnesota Vikings are a National Football League team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally, the team was to be a charter member of the American Football League, but its ownership group withdrew from the AFL and agreed to join the NFL as a 1961 expansion team.
| Minnesota Vikings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Basic info | |||
| Established | 1961 | ||
| Stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | ||
| Colors | Purple, Gold, and White | ||
| Personnel | |||
| Head coach | Mike Tice | ||
| Team history | |||
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| Home fields | |||
| {{{stadium_years}}} | |||
| League / conference affiliations | |||
| National Football League ([[{{{NFL_start_yr}}} NFL season|{{{NFL_start_yr}}}]]–present) | |||
| Championships | |||
| League championships: 1 NFL Champions: 1969 | |||
| Conference championships: 4
NFL Western: 1969 NFC: 1973, 1974, 1976 | |||
| Division championships: 16
NFL Central: 1968, 1969 NFC Central: 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000 | |||
- Founded: 1961
- Division and Conference: National Football Conference North Division
- Home field: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
- Previous home field: Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington (1961-1981)
- Uniform colors: Purple, Gold, and White
- Helmet design: Purple with a white viking horn
Franchise history
The pro football saga in the Twin Cities began in August 1959, when five Minnesota businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League. Five months later in January 1960, the same ownership group made up of Bill Boyer, Ole Haugsrud, Bernie Ridder, H. P. Skoglund and Max Winter first forfeited its AFL membership and then was awarded the National Football League's 14th franchise that was to begin play in 1961.
1960s
Minnesota's first management team was led by general manager Bert Rose and head coach Norm Van Brocklin. From the start, the Vikings embraced an energetic marketing program that produced a first-year season ticket sale of nearly 26,000 and an average home attendance of 34,586, about 85 percent of the capacity of 40,800 Metropolitan Stadium. Eventually the stadium capacity was increased to 47,900. Rose resigned from his position in 1964 and Van Brocklin quit abruptly in the spring of 1967. The Vikings went to Canada to get their replacements. Jim Finks, then general manager of the Calgary Stampeders, was named as the new general manager. Bud Grant, head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings field leader.
On March 7, 1967, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants for a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1967, a 1st-round choice in '68 and a 2nd-round choice in '69. With the picks Minnesota selected Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in '67, Ron Yary in '68 and Ed White in '69.
The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-7, in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota became the 1st modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL Championship Game, which gave them a berth to the Super Bowl which the heavily favored Vikings dropped to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7.
1970s
In 1972 the Vikings traded Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements and a 1st-round choice in '72 and '73 to the New York Giants to reacquire the popular Tarkenton.
On January 13, 1974, the Vikings played in the 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history against the Miami Dolphins at Rice Stadium in Houston, TX. The Dolphins prevailed, 24-7. Minnesota earned the trip to Super Bowl VIII by defeating Dallas, 27-10, in the NFC Championship game.
The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 12, 1975. Minnesota earned a trip to Super Bowl IX by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 14-10, at Metropolitan Stadium on December 29, 1974.
The Vikings played in their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years against the Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on January 9, 1977. The Vikings however, couldn't break its bad luck in the Super Bowl. Minnesota lost, 32-14. The Vikings earned a trip to Super Bowl XI by defeating the Rams, 24-13, at Metropolitan Stadium on December 26, 1976, in what ended up being the last Vikings playoff game at the Met.
On January 1, 1978, the Vikings played Dallas Cowboys in their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years at Texas Stadium. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6.
1980s
On May 15, 1981, the Vikings moved into a new facility in Eden Prairie that houses the team's offices, locker room and practice fields. The complex was named "Winter Park" after Max Winter, one of the Vikings founders who served as the team's president from 1965-87.
The Vikings played their 1st game at the Metrodome in a preseason matchup against Seattle on Aug. 21, 1982. Minnesota prevailed, 7-3. The 1st touchdown in the new facility was scored by Joe Senser on an 11-yard pass from Tommy Kramer. The 1st regular-season game in the Metrodome was the 1982 opener on September 12, when the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay, 17-10. Rickey Young scored the 1st regular-season touchdown in the facility on a 3-yard run in the 2nd quarter.
On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as Head Coach of the Vikings. In 17 seasons Grant led Minnesota to 12 playoff appearances, 11 division titles and 4 Super Bowls. His career regular-season record was 151-87-5 (.632). The person that would take his place would be Les Steckel.
Les Steckel, who was an offensive assistant with the Vikings for 5 seasons, was named the 3rd head coach in franchise history on January 29, 1984. Steckel, who came to the Vikings in 1979 after working as an assistant with the 49ers, was the youngest head coach in the NFL in 1984 at age 38.
After Steckel's dismal season, he was fired and on December 18, 1984, Bud Grant was re-hired as the head coach of the Vikings.
On January 6, 1986, following the 1985 season, Bud Grant re-retired as head coach of the Vikings. At the time of his retirement he was the 6th winningest coach in NFL history with 168 career wins, including playoffs. In 18 seasons he led the Vikings to a 158-96-5 regular season record.
Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns was named the 4th head coach in team history on January 7, 1986. He served as the Vikings offensive coordinator from 1968-85, when the team won 11 division titles and played in 4 Super Bowls. In his first season, the Vikings led by the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Tommy Kramer, went 9-7, their first winning record in 4 years. In his second season, he led the Vikings to the NFC championship game.
The Vikings played the Redskins in the NFC Championship Game on January 17, 1988, at RFK Stadium. Trailing 17-10, the Vikings drove to the Redskins' 6-yard line with a little over a minute left in the game but failed to get the ball into the end zone. Minnesota upset New Orleans, 44-10, at the Superdome and San Francisco, 36-24, at Candlestick Park in the first 2 rounds of the playoffs to earn a trip to the conference title game.
The Vikings would make what would be considered its biggest blunder in team history. On October 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired Herschel Walker from Dallas for Issiac Holt, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Jesse Solomon, Alex Stewart, a first-round choice in 1992, conditional 1st-round choices in 1990 and '91, conditional 2nd-round choices in 1990, '91 and '92, and a conditional 3rd-round choice in 1992. The final result of the trade gave the Vikings Walker, a 3rd (Mike Jones), 5th (Reggie Thornton) and 10th-round choice (Pat Newman) in 1990 and a 3rd-round choice in 1991 (Jake Reed), while Dallas received all 5 players, a 1st, 2nd and 6th-round choice in 1990, a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1991 and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round choice in 1992.
1990s
On December 3, 1991, Jerry Burns announced his retirement. In 6 seasons as Head Coach of the Vikings, Burns compiled a career record of 52-43 (.547). He also led Minnesota to 3 playoff appearances, including a division title and an NFC Championship Game.
On January 10, 1992, the controversial Dennis Green was named the 5th Head Coach in team history. He came to Minnesota after turning around a struggling Stanford University football program as head coach there from 1989-91.
In his 10 seasons as the coach of the Vikings, he won 4 NFC Central division titles, had 8 playoff appearances, 2 NFC championship game appearances and an all-time record of 97-62.
The team had 2 disappointing losses of note during Green's tenure: The 1998 NFC Championship game and the 2000 NFC Championship game. The former was lost 30-27 in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons at the Metrodome and the latter was lost 41-0 to the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.
2000s
Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2001, when Offensive Lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota.
That same year, Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing force in the Viking fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team, had his contract bought out after a 5-10 season. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001.
On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the 6th Head Coach in Vikings history. Tice is the 3rd of the 6 Vikings Head Coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but is the 1st Head Coach to have played for the Vikings.
In Tice's first season, the Vikings had a dismal 6-10 record, which he turned around in 2003 with a fast 6-0 start. However, the Vikings ended up going 3-7 the rest of the season, missing the playoffs with a last second touchdown reception by the Arizona Cardinals' receiver Nate Poole. Green Bay won the division at 10-6, while the Vikings were 9-7. Ironically, the following season the Cardinals hired Dennis Green as their Head Coach.
History repeated itself in 2004 as the Vikings went 3-7 over the last 10 weeks, but this time they made the playoffs despite only going 8-8. The Vikings made history in the playoffs by beating their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in their first ever playoff meeting. They also became the second team in NFL history to go .500 (8-8) in the regular season and then win a playoff game. Unfortunately, they would lose to the eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles the following week 27-14.
The following offseason, Minnesota traded the hero of that Green Bay game (and arguably their best player), WR Randy Moss, to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker Napoleon Harris and the Raiders' pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft (pick number 7, selecting WR Troy Williamson of South Carolina). With the salary cap now freed, the Vikings also signed 5 new defensive starters to shore up their previously 28th ranked defense. It remains to be seen if this will be the biggest blunder in franchise history, or one of their greatest moves.
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7th West | -- |
| 1962 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 6th West | -- |
| 1963 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 4th West | -- |
| 1964 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2nd West | -- |
| 1965 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 5th West | -- |
| 1966 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 6th West | -- |
| 1967 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 4th Central | -- |
| 1968 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1st Central | Lost Conference Playoff Game (Colts) |
| 1969 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st Central | Lost Super Bowl IV (Chiefs) |
| 1970 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) |
| 1971 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1973 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Super Bowl VIII (Dolphins) |
| 1974 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Super Bowl IX (Steelers) |
| 1975 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) |
| 1976 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Super Bowl XI (Raiders) |
| 1977 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Conference Championship (Cowboys) |
| 1978 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Rams) |
| 1979 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1980 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) |
| 1981 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1982 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4th NFC Conf. | Lost Second Round (Redskins) |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1984 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1985 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1986 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1987 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) |
| 1988 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) |
| 1989 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) |
| 1990 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1991 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1992 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Redskins) |
| 1993 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Giants) |
| 1994 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Bears) |
| 1995 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1996 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Cowboys) |
| 1997 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) |
| 1998 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Conference Championship (Falcons) |
| 1999 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Rams) |
| 2000 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Conference Championship (Giants) |
| 2001 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 2002 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2nd NFC North | -- |
| 2003 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC North | -- |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2nd NFC North | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) |
Franchise traditions, trends
Viking horn
A two-note clarion call mimicking an authentic warrior horn. Often played over the Metrodome PA system to incite the crowd into a frenzy, particularly when the Vikings are on defense.
Helga hats
Viking fans are known to dress up in "Helga Hats", or purple hats with white horns and blond braids, mimicking the helmets worn by Viking warriors while invading rival lands.
Fight song
Often during Vikings games, the fans will be led to sing the Minnesota Vikings fight song, which has the following lyrics:
- Skol, Vikings! Let's win this game. Skol, Vikings! Honor your name.
- Go get that first down, then get a touchdown,
- Rock 'em, sock 'em, fight, fight, fight, fight!
- Go, Vikings! Run out the score; You'll hear us yell for more.
- V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol, Vikings, let's go!
Skol (written skål in norwegian, and sometimes "Skoal" in English) is the Norwegian word for a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group.
Mascot
The current team mascot is Ragnar, possibly the only "human" mascot in professional sports, meaning that he doesn't wear anything over his head. Ragnar (played by Joseph Juranitch) has been working for the Vikings since 1994, and claims to be the most widely-recognized mascot in the world. Jurantich admits to being somewhat of an eccentric—he holds the current world record for fastest time shaving a beard with an axe. Ragnar drives onto the field at the beginning of games on a loud motorcycle.
Curses
The Vikings, even though they are a very successful franchise, are faced with championship futility, much like the Chicago Cubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and many other successful franchises in other sports. Many attribute their futilities to "curses", such as the Cubs' Billy Goat curse. The Vikings have the more esoteric rune stone curse, named for the Kensington Runestone, claimed to be Viking in origin, which was found near Alexandria, Minnesota. Legend has it that the runestone predicts the fate of the Minnesota Vikings in the future.
- 22 Norwegians on
- discovery voyage from
- Vinland over (the) west we
- had camp by 2 skerries one
- days journey north from this stone
- we were and fishe(ed) one day after
- we came home found 10 men red
- with blood and dead.
The 22 Norwegians in this reference are a reference to the 22 players that play on a starting offense and defense on an NFL football team. The 10 dead are usually a reference to a massive group of injuries or an offense or defense that plays sub par.
They also have the 0 for 4 Curse. They have played in four Super bowls, but have won none.
The Minnesota Vikings sex scandal
This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
During October, 2005 a major scandal rocked the Minnesota Vikings. Allegations surfaced that several Vikings players were involved in inappropriate sexual behavior during a cruise on Lake Minnetonka. No charges have been filed as of yet, although Vikings owner Zygmunt Wilf has apologized to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty for the team's conduct. State Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson has indefinitely shut down the proposal for a new stadium because of the scandal. The scandal became locally known as Danglegate 2005 on the October 19, 2005, episode of "Bumper to Bumper with Dan Barreiro" on KFAN-AM 1130. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently on the case.
On October 21, 2005 Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf reportedly delivered an "intense" profanity-laced address to the team regarding the scandal.
Players of note
Current players
- Michael Bennett RB
- Matt Birk C
- Ralph Brown CB
- Nate Burleson WR
- Corey Chavous SS
- Sam Cowart LB
- Daunte Culpepper QB
- Rod Davis LB
- Jeff Dugan TE/FB
- Paul Edinger K
- Melvin Fowler OL
- Dustin Fox S
- Adam Goldberg G
- Napoleon Harris LB
- E.J. Henderson LB
- Shaun Hill QB
- Keenan Howry WR/KR
- Ken Irvin S
- Erasmus James DE
- Brad Johnson QB
- Spencer Johnson DT
- Lance Johnstone DE
- Jim Kleinsasser TE
- Chris Kluwe P
- Chris Liwienski G
- Bryant McKinnie OT
- Mewelde Moore RB
- Willie Offord S
- Richard Owens TE/FB
- Koren Robinson WR
- Marcus Robinson WR
- Mike Rosenthal OT
- Darrian Scott DE
- Darren Sharper FS
- Onterrio Smith HB
- Raonall Smith LB
- Fred Smoot CB
- Travis Taylor WR
- Dontarrious Thomas LB
- Kenechi Udeze DE
- Jermaine Wiggins TE
- Brian Williams CB
- Kevin Williams DT
- Moe Williams RB
- Pat Williams DT
- Troy Williamson WR
- Antoine Winfield CB
Retired numbers
- Fran Tarkenton 10
- Mick Tingelhoff 53
- Jim Marshall 70
- Korey Stringer 77
- Cris Carter 80
- Alan Page 88
Not to be forgotten
- Gary Anderson
- Darren Bennett P
- Matt Blair
- Joey Browner
- Anthony Carter
- Randall Cunningham
- Jack Del Rio
- Chris Doleman
- Chuck Foreman
- Jeff George
- Ryan Hoag
- Steve Jordan
- Joe Kapp
- Tommy Kramer
- Randall McDaniel
- Keith Millard
- Warren Moon
- Randy Moss
- Darren Nelson
- David Palmer
- John Randle
- Ahmad Rashad
- Jake Reed
- Fuad Reveiz
- Scott Studwell
- Herschel Walker
- Wade Wilson
- Gary Zimmerman
References
- Mike Marshall. Minnesota Vikings History