National Football League
Minnesota Vikings
NFC/Central
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History of the Vikings
The expansion Minnesota Vikings took the field in September of 1961. Original QB Fran Tarkenton led the team to its first win in their first game; 37-13 over the Chicago Bears. It would take a few years before the team would get into the playoffs but they did so in the 1968 season winning their division with an 8-6 record. The team would play the Baltimore Colts in the Division Playoffs, losing 24-14.
The 1969 season would prove critical to the franchise as the team cruised to a 12-2 record, earning the right to face the LA Rams for the NFC Title. The Vikings claimed a 24-20 victory and for the first time was headed into the Super Bowl. Matched up against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings struggled early and found themselves behind 16-0 by halftime. Unable to overcome the deficit, the Chiefs rolled the Vikings 23-7 to win their first ever Super Bowl.
The Vikings would again make it to the Super Bowl 4 seasons later as they faced the Defending Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII but the outcome would be pretty much the same as the Dolphins drubbed the Vikings 24-17. The Vikings would again claim the NFC Championship in the 1974 season as they held off the LA Rams to advance to their second consecutive Championship.
Super Bowl IX featured the Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers in New Orleans. Going into halftime, the Steelers had a 2-0 lead on a Fran Tarkenton sack in the end zone. The 2nd half the team wouldn’t fare much better as the offense could never get on track. The Vikings lost the game 16-6, their 3rd Super Bowl loss.
It would be 2 seasons later, in 1976, that the Vikings again made it into the Super Bowl, Super Bowl XI where they faced the Oakland Raiders for their 4th attempt at a Super Bowl Trophy. The Raiders prevailed with a convincing 32-14 thrashing.
The Vikings, the 1st team to get into 4 Super Bowls, have yet to make it back to the championship game.
The Vikings have made the playoffs 25 times in 48 years and have won their division 17 times (1968, 69, 1970, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 1980, 82, 87, 88, 89, 1992, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2004 and 2008). They have won their conference 8 times (1969, 1973, 74, 76, 77, 1987, 1998, 2000), and have appeared in 4 Super Bowls (1969, 1973, 74, 76).
The team has had 13 Hall of Famers on their rosters: Dave Casper 1983, Carl Eller 1964-1978, Jim Finks GM 1964-1973, Bud Grant Coach 1967-1983, 1985, Paul Krause 1968-1979, Hugh McElhenny 1961-1962, Jim Langer 1980-1981, Warren Moon 1994-1996, Alan Page 1967-1978, Jan Stenerud 1984-1985, Fran Tarkenton 1961-66, 72-78, Ron Yary 1968-1981 and Gary Zimmerman 1986-1992).
The team has retired 6 jerseys: #10 Fran Tarkenton 61-66, 72-78, #53 Mick Tingelhoff 1962-1978, #70 Jim Marshall 1961thru 1979, #77 Korey Stringer 1995-2000, #80 Chris Carter 1990-2001, and #88 Alan Page 1967-1978.
Team Awards include 1 Coach of the Year (1969 Bud Grant), 5 Offensive Rookie of the Year Awards (1963 Paul Flatley, 1973 Chuck Foreman, 1976 Sammy White, 1998 Randy Moss and 2007 Adrian Peterson), 1 Defensive Player of the Year Award (1989 Keith Millard), 2 Offensive Player of the Year Awards (1973 Chuck Foreman and 1975 Fran Tarkenton) and 2 NLF MVP Awards (1971 Alan Page and 1975 Fran Tarkenton).
| Minnesota Professional & College Sports Teams and Events | |
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| NBA Minnesota Timberwolves | NHL Minnesota Wild |
| MLB Minnesota Twins | Masters Golf |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers Football | Minnesota Golden Gophers Basketball |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers Hockey | WNBA Minnesota Lynx |
| PGA Championship | |
| Stadium Seating Chart |
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