Pro football in the Twin Cities began with the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets, an NFL aggregation that played intermittently in the 1920s-30s.[1] However, a new able aggregation in the breadth did not apparent afresh until August 1959, if three Minneapolis businessmen Bill Boyer, H. P. Skoglund and Max Winter were awarded a authorization in the new American Football League. Five months afterwards in January 1960, the buying accumulation forth with Bernie Ridder absent its AFL associates and afresh was awarded the National Football League's 14th authorization with play to activate in 1961.[2] Ole Haugsrud was added to the NFL aggregation buying because of an acceding he had with the NFL aback the 1920s if he awash his Duluth Eskimos aggregation aback to the league. The acceding accustomed him 10% of any approaching Minnesota team.
The aggregation was clearly alleged the Minnesota Vikings on September 27, 1960; the name is partly meant to reflect Minnesota's abode as a centermost of Scandinavian American culture.[3] From the start, the Vikings accepted an active business affairs that produced a first-year analysis admission sales of about 26,000 and an boilerplate home appearance of 34,586, about 85 percent of the accommodation of 40,800 for Metropolitan Stadium. Eventually Met Stadium accommodation was added to 47,900.[2] The seek for the aboriginal arch drillmaster had the aggregation cloister then-Northwestern University arch drillmaster Ara Parseghian, who according to Minneapolis Star biographer Jim Klobuchar -- the Vikings' aboriginal exhausted anchorman for that bi-weekly -- visited aggregation administration in the Twin Cities beneath the action that his appointment was to be kept abstruse from his accepted employer. His awning was destroyed by bounded columnist Sid Hartman who appear the appointment and affected Parseghian to affair denials. Philadelphia Eagles abettor Nick Skorich and a man with Minnesota ties who was alive in the CFL, Bud Grant, were aswell candidates until a altered Eagle, quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, was assassin aboriginal in 1961. Van Brocklin had just accomplished his career as a amateur on a top note, accepting defeated the Green Bay Packers in the 1960 NFL championship.[3]
With the aboriginal all-embracing alternative in the 1961 NFL Draft, the Vikings alleged active aback Tommy Mason of Tulane. They took a adolescent quarterback from the University of Georgia alleged Fran Tarkenton in the third round. Notable veterans acquired in the offseason were Norm Snead and Hugh McElhenny. The Vikings won their aboriginal approved analysis game, acquisition the Chicago Bears 37–13 on Opening Day 1961. Tarkenton came off the bank to bandy four touchdown passes and run for addition to advance the upset.[2] Reality set in as the amplification aggregation absent its next seven amateur on their way to a 3-11 record.[3]
On March 7, 1967, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants for a 1st and 2nd-round best in 1967, a 1st-round best in 1968 and a 2nd-round best in 1969. With the picks Minnesota alleged Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in 1967, Ron Yary in 1968 and Ed White in 1969.[4] Three canicule afterwards on March 10, the Vikings assassin new arch drillmaster Bud Grant to alter Van Brocklin, who accommodated afterward the 1966 NFL season. Grant came to the Vikings from the Canadian Football Alliance as arch drillmaster for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who he led to four Grey Cup Championships in 10 years.[3][4] During the backward 1960s, the Vikings were architecture a able aegis accepted as the Purple People Eaters, led by Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall.[5] In 1968, that stingy aegis becoming the Vikings their aboriginal Central Analysis Appellation and their aboriginal playoff berth.[3]
In 1969 the Vikings went 12–2, the best almanac in the NFL.[4] The aggregation had 12 beeline victories, the longest single-season acceptable band in 35 years.[6] The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27–7, in the NFL Championship Bold on Jan. 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota became the aboriginal avant-garde NFL amplification aggregation to win an NFL Championship Game,[4] and becoming a anchorage in Super Bowl IV. The heavily advantaged Vikings absent that bold to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7.[7]
1970s
The aggregation connected to flash in 1970 and 1971 as their "Purple People Eater" aegis led them aback to the playoffs. In 1971 the aegis was absorbing abundant that Alan Page won the NFL A lot of Valuable Amateur Accolade accustomed by the Associated Press. He was the aboriginal arresting amateur to win the award.
In 1972 the Vikings traded Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements and a 1st-round abstract best in 1972 and 1973 to the New York Giants to balance the accepted Tarkenton.[4] While the acquisitions of Fran Tarkenton and avant-garde receiver John Gilliam bigger the casual attack, the active bold was inconsistent and the Vikings accomplished with a black 7–7 record. The Vikings addressed the botheration by drafting active aback Chuck Foreman with their aboriginal aces in the 1973 draft. Co-owner Bill Boyer died in 1972 and was replaced on the team's lath of admiral by his son-in-law Jack Steele.[4]
The Vikings won their aboriginal 9 amateur of 1973 and accomplished the analysis with a 12–2 record.[3] The Vikings afresh avant-garde to their additional Super Bowl in authorization history, Super Bowl VIII, adjoin the Miami Dolphins at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. However, the Dolphins prevailed, 24–7.[4]
The Vikings won the Central Analysis afresh in 1974 with a 10–4 record, which was a tie for the best almanac in the conference.[4] In the playoffs they congenital on their algid acclimate reputation, acquisition both the St. Louis Cardinals 30–14 and the Los Angeles Rams 14–10 in arctic Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings played in their additional beeline Super Bowl, Super Bowl IX (3rd overall), accident to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16–6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 12, 1975.[3][4]
In 1975, the Vikings, led by Tarkenton and active aback Chuck Foreman, got off to a 10–0 alpha and calmly won addition analysis title.[3][4] However, the Vikings absent to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, 17–14, on a arguable touchdown canyon from the Cowboys' quarterback Roger Staubach to avant-garde receiver Drew Pearson that became accepted as the Hail Mary.[8] The touchdown was arguable because abounding acquainted that Pearson pushed off on Vikings arresting aback Nate Wright, which is canyon interference, a abuse of the rules. As the Metropolitan Stadium army was abashed to apprentice that no amends was called, bits was befuddled on the acreage for several minutes. One canteen (Jack Daniels) addled a bold official, apprehension him unconscious.
See also: The Hail Mary (American football game)
The Vikings played in Super Bowl XI, their third Super Bowl (4th overall) in 4 years, adjoin the Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California,on January 9, 1977. The Vikings, however, couldn't breach their bad luck in the Super Bowl. Minnesota lost, 32–14.[4]
In 1977, the Vikings afresh won the Central Analysis with a 9–5 almanac and avant-garde to their 4th NFC Championship Bold in 5 years,[4] but were defeated by the closing Super Bowl Champion Cowboys, 23–6, at Texas Stadium.[3]
By 1978, age was demography its assessment on the Vikings, but they still fabricated the playoffs with an 8–7–1 record. There was no added playoff abracadabra as the Rams assuredly defeated the Vikings, 34–10 in Los Angeles.[3] Quarterback Fran Tarkenton retired afterward the analysis captivation alliance passer annal in attempts (6,467), completions (3,686), yards (47,003), and touchdowns (342).[9]
In December, 1979, arena is torn for architecture of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in city Minneapolis.[4]
1980s
On May 15, 1981, the Vikings confused into a new ability in burghal Eden Prairie that houses the team's offices, locker allowance and convenance fields. The circuitous was alleged "Winter Park" afterwards Max Winter, one of the Vikings' founders, who served as the team's admiral from 1965 to 1987.[4] The Vikings played their final bold at Metropolitan Stadium on December 20th to achieve the 1981 NFL analysis by accident to the Kansas City Chiefs, 10–6.[3][4]
The Vikings played their aboriginal bold at the Metrodome in a preseason antagonism adjoin the Seattle Seahawks on August 21, 1982 in a bold Minnesota won, 7–3.[4] The aboriginal touchdown in the new ability was denticulate by Joe Senser on an 11 backyard canyon from Tommy Kramer.[4] The aboriginal regular-season bold in the Metrodome was the 1982 opener on September 12, if the Vikings defeated Tampa Bay, 17–10. Rickey Adolescent denticulate the aboriginal regular-season touchdown in the ability on a 3 backyard run in the 2nd quarter.[4]
On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as arch drillmaster of the Vikings. With a career regular-season almanac of 151–87–5 (.632) in 17 seasons with Minnesota, Grant led the authorization to 12 playoff appearances, 11 analysis titles, and four Super Bowls.[4] Les Steckel, who was an abhorrent abettor with the Vikings for 5 seasons, was afresh alleged the 3rd arch drillmaster in authorization history. Steckel, who came to the Vikings in 1979 afterwards alive as an abettor with the 49ers, was the youngest arch drillmaster in the NFL in 1984 at age 38.[4] However, the Vikings absent a franchise-worst 13 games.[3] Afterwards the analysis Steckel was fired, and on December 18, 1984, Bud Grant was rehired as the arch drillmaster of the Vikings.[4]
On January 6, 1986, afterward the 1985 season, Bud Grant re-retired as arch drillmaster of the Vikings. At the time of his retirement he was the 6th winningest drillmaster in NFL history with 168 career wins, including playoffs. In 18 seasons, he led the Vikings to a 158–96–5 approved analysis record.[10] Longtime Vikings abettor drillmaster Jerry Burns was alleged the 4th arch drillmaster in aggregation history on January 7, 1986.[4] He served as the Vikings' abhorrent coordinator from 1968–85, if the aggregation won 11 analysis titles and played in 4 Super Bowls. In his aboriginal season, the Vikings led by the NFL Comeback Amateur of the Year Tommy Kramer, went 9–7,[3] their aboriginal acceptable almanac in 4 years. On August 2, 1986, Fran Tarkenton was the aboriginal amateur who played the majority of his career with the Vikings, to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[4][9]
Following the strike-shortened 1987 season, the 8–7 Vikings --- who had accomplished 8–4 in approved amateur but 0–3 application strike-replacement players --- pulled two upsets in the playoffs by assault the two teams with the best approved analysis records. They exhausted the 12–3 New Orleans Saints, 44–10, at the Louisiana Superdome in the Wild Card Playoff game. The afterward week, in the Divisional Playoff game, they exhausted the 13–2 San Francisco 49ers, 36–24;, at Candlestick Park. During that bold Anthony Carter set the best almanac for a lot of accepting yards in a playoff bold with 227 yards. The Vikings played the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Bold on January 17, 1988, at RFK Stadium. Trailing 17–10, the Vikings collection to the Redskins' six backyard band with a little over a minute larboard in the bold but bootless to get the brawl into the end zone. Darren Nelson alone a canyon from Wade Wilson at the ambition band to clearly end the Vikings' hopes of a Super Bowl.
The Vikings would accomplish what would be advised its better cadre blooper in aggregation history. On October 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired Herschel Walker from Dallas. The final aftereffect of the barter gave the Vikings Walker, third-round best Mike Jones, fifth-round best Reggie Thornton and tenth-round best Pat Newman in 1990 and a third-round best in 1991 Jake Reed, while Dallas accustomed Issiac Holt, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Jesse Solomon, Alex Stewart, a 1st, 2nd and 6th-round best in 1990, 1st and 2nd-round choices in 1991 and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round best in 1992. Two of those selections angry into Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson. Herschel's achievement fell abbreviate of expectations in his three seasons with the Vikings, while the Cowboys rode their abstract picks to three Super Bowl victories in the aboriginal to mid 1990s.