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FRANCHISE FOUNDED
Minnesota was granted an NFL franchise at the league owners’ meetings in Miami on Jan. 28, 1960. The team began play in 1961. The founding group consisted of Max Winter, E. William Boyer, H.P Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr. -
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Vikings Football Timespan
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FIRST COLLEGE DRAFT
On Dec. 27, 1960, RB Tommy Mason of Tulane was taken with the 1st overall choice and the first-ever draft pick utilized by the Vikings. Also selected that year were QB Fran Tarkenton (3rd round) and DB Ed Sharockman (5th round). -
ASSIGNED CONFERENCE
On April 12, 1961, the NFL assigned the Vikings to the Western Conference. Minnesota joined Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the conference. -
FIRST GAME
In the first game in franchise history, the Vikings played the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason game in Sioux Falls, SD, on Aug. 5, 1961. The Cowboys defeated the Vikings, 38- 13. -
FIRST HOME GAME
The Minnesota Vikings played the Los Angeles Rams in preseason action at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN, on Sept. 10, 1961, the team’s first game in the Twin Cities. The Rams defeated the Vikings, 21-17. -
FIRST PRO BOWLERS
On Jan. 14, 1962, RB Hugh McElhenny and WR Jerry Reichow became the first Vikings to compete in the Pro Bowl. They were part of the Western Conference All-Stars who beat the Eastern Conference squad, 31-30, at the Los Angeles Coliseum -
MET EXPANDED
A new grandstand was constructed on the east side of Metropolitan Stadium that increased capacity from 41,200 to 47,200. The new seats were formally dedicated on Aug. 20, 1965, when Minnesota played Philadelphia in a preseason game. -
NFL RE-ALIGNED
On Dec. 2, 1966, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay were chosen to make up the newly-formed Central Division of the Western Conference of the NFL. -
FIRST DIVISION TITLE
On Dec. 15, 1968 the Vikings defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24- 17, at Franklin Field then retired to the dressing room to listen to the Chicago-Green Bay game on the radio. Minnesota needed the Bears to lose to clinch the Vikings’ 1st Division title. Chicago tried to rally from a 28-10 4th quarter deficit but eventually fell 28-17. -
FIRST PLAYOFF GAME
On Dec. 22, 1968, in the first playoff game in franchise history, the Colts defeated the Vikings, 24-14, in the Western Conference Championship Game at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Minnesota trailed 21-0 in the 4th quarter but a late rally fell short. -
SECOND DIVISION TITLE
On Nov. 27, 1969, the Vikings shut out Detroit, 27-0, at Tiger Stadium to clinch the franchise’s 2nd division title. The victory over the Lions was the 10th of a 12-game win streak, the longest in the NFL in 35 years. Minnesota finished the season with the NFL’s best record (12-2) of ’69. -
FIRST PLAYOFF WIN
On Dec. 27, 1969, in the first NFL playoff game in Minnesota, the Vikings came from behind to defeat the LA Rams, 23-20, in the Western Conference Championship Game. Minnesota overcame deficits of 17-7 at halftime and 20-14 in the 4th quarter for the franchise’s 1st postseason win. FIRST NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — The Vikings defeated the Browns, 27-7, in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 4, 1970, at Metro - politan Stadium. Minnesota became the 1st modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL Champions -
FIRST SUPERBOWL
On Jan. 11, 1970, the Vikings lost to Kansas City, 23-7, in Super Bowl IV at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Not only was the game the 1st Super Bowl in franchise history, but it was the 1st Super Bowl played by a modern expansion team. -
THIRD DIVISION TITLE
On Dec. 5, 1970, the Vikings defeated the Bears, 16-13, at Metropolitan Stadium to clinch their 3rd straight division title. Minnesota hosted San Francisco in a divisional playoff game but lost, 17-14. For the 2nd consecutive season, the Vikings had the league’s best record with a 12-2 mark -
FOURTH DIVISION TITLE
On Dec. 11, 1971, the Vikings defeated the Lions, 29-10, at Metropolitan Stadium to clinch their 4th straight division title. Minnesota finished the year with an -
FIFTH DIVISION TITLE
The Vikings began the ’73 season with 9 straight victories and clinched the NFC Central championship before they even lost a game. Minnesota clinched the division crown by defeating Detroit, 28-7, at Metropolitan Stadium on Nov. 11, 1973. The Vikings finished with a 12-2 mark, which tied for the best record in the league that year. -
SECOND SUPERBOWL
On Jan. 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. FINKS RESIGNS — After the 1973 season, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jim Finks resigned. Under Finks, who was hired in 1964, the Vikings won 5 division titles and appeared in 2 Super Bowls. He also hired Bud Grant -
SIXTH DIVISION TITLE
On Dec. 1, 1974, the Vikings clinched the NFC Central crown by defeating the Saints, 29-9, at Metropolitan Stadium, while the Packers lost, 36-14, at Philadelphia. Minnesota tied for the best record in the NFC with a 10-4 mark. -
THIRD SUPERBOWL
The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1975. Minnesota earned a trip to Super Bowl IX by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 14-10, at Metropolitan Stadium on Dec. 29, 1974. -
SEVENTH DIVISION TITLE
The Vikings clinched their 3rd straight NFC Central title and their 7th division championship in 8 years on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 27, 1975, when the Lions lost to the Rams, 20-0. Minnesota won 10 consecutive games to start the season and finished the year with the best record (12-2) in the NFL. The Vikings were upset, 17-14, in the divisional playoffs at Metropolitan Stadium on Dec. 28, 1975, when the Dallas Cowboys scored on a last minute 50-yard touchdown pass -
EIGHTH DIVISION TITLE
The Vikings clinched their 4th consecutive NFC Central championship and their 8th division title in 9 years by defeating the Packers, 17-10, at Milwaukee County Stadium on Nov. 21, 1976. Minnesota finished the season with the best record in the NFC at 11-2-1. -
FOURTH SUPERBOWL
Super Bowl XI
The Vikings played in their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years against the Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Jan. 9, 1977. Minnesota lost, 32-14. The Vikings earned a trip to Super Bowl XI by defeating the Rams, 24-13, at Metropolitan Stadium on Dec. 26, 1976, in what ended up being the last Vikings playoff game at the Met. -
NINTH DIVISION TITLE
The Vikings clinched the NFC Central crown on the season’s final weekend by defeating the Lions, 30-21, in Detroit on Dec. 17, 1977. Minnesota wrapped up its 5th straight NFC Central title and its 9th division crown in 10 seasons. -
FOURTH NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
On Jan. 1, 1978 the Vikings played Dallas in their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years at Texas Stadium. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6 -
10TH DIVISION
Despite losing in the regular-season finale to the Raiders, 27-20, on Dec. 17, 1978, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Vikings captured the NFC Central title when the Packers, who played at the same time as Minnesota, lost to the Rams, 31-14, at the LA Coliseum. It was the Vikings’ 6th straight NFC Central crown and their 10th division championship in 11 years. -
METRODOME GROUND BREAKING
In December, 1979, ground was broken for construction of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. The stadium, which will house both the Vikings and Twins, was scheduled to open in April, 1982. -
11TH DIVISION TITLE
Minnesota clinched its 7th NFC Central title in 8 years by defeating the Browns, 28-23, at Met Stadium on Dec. 14, 1980. It also was the Vikings’ 11th division title in 13 seasons. Minnesota lost to the NFC Champion Eagles, 31-16, at Veterans Stadium on Jan. 3, 1981 in the divisional playoffs. -
WINTER PARK OPENS
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. -
FAREWELL MET
On Dec. 20, 1981, the Vikings hosted the Chiefs in Minnesota’s final game at Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings lost, 10-6. The final points at the stadium were scored on a 33-yard field goal by Minnesota kicker Rick Danmeier. The last Vikings touchdown at Met Stadium was scored on a 6-yard run by Ted Brown against Green Bay on Nov. 29, 1981. -
METRODOME OPENS
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. -
FIRST DOME PLAYOFF GAME
On Jan. 9, 1983, the Vikings defeated Atlanta, 30-24, in a 1st-round game that was the 1st playoff matchup in the Metrodome. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Redskins, 21-7, in the NFC semi-finals at RFK Stadium on Jan. 15, 1983. Bud Grant coached the Vikings to 4 Super Bowls and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994. -
TARKENTON ENSHRINED
TARKENTON ENSHRINED — On Aug. 2, 1986, Fran Tarkenton became the 1st player who spent the majority of his career with the Vikings to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He retired following the 1978 season with NFL career records for passing yards (47,003), completions (3,686) and touchdown passes (342). He led the team to 6 NFC Central titles, 4 NFC Championship Games and 3 Super Bowls. -
FIFTH NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The Vikings played the Redskins in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 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. -
PAGE ENSHRINED
On July 30, 1988, Alan Page became the 2nd player who spent the majority of his career with the Vikings to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drafted by Minnesota in the 1st round in 1967, Page made the Pro Bowl 9 times. In 1971 he became the 1st defensive player to be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by Associated Press. Page played on teams that won 10 NFC Central titles and played in 4 Super Bowls. -
12TH DIVISION TITLE
The Vikings captured their 12th division title since 1968 by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 29-21, at the Metrodome in a Monday night game on Christmas Day in 1989. It also was Minnesota’s 15th postseason appearance in the past 22 years. The Vikings finished the season with a 10-6 record but lost to eventual Super Bowl Champion San Francisco, 41-13, at Candlestick Park in the divisional playoffs on Jan. 6, 1990. -
13TH DIVISION TITLE
On Dec. 20, 1992 the Vikings defeated the Steelers, 6-3, at Three Rivers Stadium to earn the franchise’s 13th division title. It also was Minnesota’s 16th playoff season since 1968. Dennis Green also posted the most victories (11) and the 1st division title by a 1st-year head coach in team history. The Vikings lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Redskins, 24-7, in a 1st-round playoff game at the Metrodome on Jan. 2, 1993. -
14TH DIVISION TITLE
On the final day of the 1994 regular season, the Vikings defeated the 49ers, 21-14, in a Monday night game to earn their 2nd NFC Central title in 3 seasons and their 3rd straight playoff berth. It also was Minnesota’s 14th division title and 18th postseason appearance since 1968. Dennis Green became only the 7th NFL coach to lead his team to the playoffs in his first 3 seasons. -
KRAUSE ENSHRINED
On August 1, 1998, Paul Krause was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Krause played free safety with the Vikings from 1968-79 and the Redskins from 1964-67. He holds the NFL record for career interceptions with 81. Krause was selected to 8 Pro Bowls in his 15-year career. -
CARTER NAMED MAN OF THE YEAR
Man of the Year Award
Cris Carter was honored as the first recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for civic involvement, charity work and displaying high character on January 29, 2000, in a ceremony during Super Bowl week in Atlanta. The award was re-named after Payton, a Hall of Fame running back who died in 1999. -
YARY ENSHRINED
YARY ENSHRINED — On August 4, 2000, Ron Yary was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yary played 14 seasons with Minnesota and played in 4 Super Bowls and 7 Pro Bowls during his career. -
ELLER ENSHRINED
On August 8, 2004, Carl Eller was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eller, the Vikings career sacks leader, was a member of the vaunted Purple People Eaters defense. -
McDANIEL ENSHRINED
G Randall McDaniel was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8, 2009. McDaniel started 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989-2000), started 202 consecutive games and missed only 2 games his entire career after being a 1st-round pick by the Vikings in 1988. -
RANDLE ENSHRINED
DT John Randle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7, 2010 following a 14-year career, including 11 years as a Vikings (1990-2000). He was named to NFL Team of the Decade for the 1990s and led or tied for the team lead in sacks 9 times in his 11 Vikings seasons. -
50 GREATEST VIKINGS CAPS 50TH SEASON CELEBRATION
Minnesota Vikings 50 Seasons
Vikings legends reunited for a celebration of the storied history of the Vikings’ franchise during a weekend of activities leading up to the Monday Night Football game versus Chicago on December 20, 2010. The team unveiled the 50 greatest Vikings and they were introduced to fans at halftime of the snowy game at TCF Bank Stadium. -
NEW STADIUM DEAL APPROVED
New Stadium Plan with Tyler Merriam
In May 2012, a bill for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium was passed through the Minnesota legislature and signed by Governor Mark Dayton. Funded by the Vikings, the State of Minnesota, and the City of Minneapolis, the new stadium will be located on the current Metrodome site. Groundbreaking on the stadium site is expected in Spring 2013 with project completion in time for the 2016 NFL season. -
DOLEMAN ENSHRINED
DE Chris Doleman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4, 2012 following a 15-year career, including 10 with the Vikings. His 150.5 sacks was ranked fourth all-time in the NFL at the time of his retirerment.
