Established: 1961
Home Field: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Owner(s): Zygi Wilf
General Manager: Rick Spielman
Head Coach: Brad Childress

The Minnesota Vikings were established in 1961 after a plan to acquire a new AFL team fell through. From 1970 to 2002, the team played in the NFC Central division – also known as the ‘Black & Blue Division’ because of the intense rivalries between the teams and the intensely physical style of play. They currently play in the NFC North.

Minnesota was the first expansion team in NFL history to win their first game. They defeated the Chicago Bears 37-13. However, the rest of their inaugural season was a disappointment, finishing with a 3-11 record. The team continued with mediocre success, until the late sixties. They had been steadily building a powerful defense that was ultimately named the Purple People Eaters (Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Jim Marshall). It was this focus on defense that led the team to their first championship game in 1968. In 1969, the team posted another successful season, going 12-2 and produced the longest winning streak in the NFL in 35 years by winning 12 games in a row. They went on to defeat the Cleveland Browns in their first ever NFL Championship Game.

The Vikings continued with their success through 70s largely due to their powerful People Eater defense. In 1975, the Vikings easily clinched their division title again, eventually losing in the playoffs to Dallas on a controversial touchdown pass from Cowboys’ QB Roger Staubach to WR Drew Pearson that became known as the ‘Hail Mary’ pass. Over the course of the decade, they made it to the Super Bowl three times, but lost all three.

Through the 80s and 90s, the team consistently made it through to the playoffs, though they were unable to break their bad luck when it came to the postseason. Unfortunately, this bad luck continues to plague the team, as they have not made it to the Super Bowl since 1976.

Championships

League Championships
NFL: 1969

Conference Championships
NFL Western: 1969
NFC: 1973, 1974, 1976

Division Championships
NFL Central: 1968, 1969
NFC Central: 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000

Vikings Trivia

• The Vikings franchise was given to owner Max Winter on the agreement that he would back out of a plan to buy an expansion team for the AFL.
• Many remember 1964 as the season that Jim Marshall picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in the opposing team’s end zone.
• The Vikings were the first team to play in four Super Bowls. They were also the first team to lose in four Super Bowls.