NFL Football Team History: The Minnesota Vikings

In August of 1959, three local businessmen, Bill Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, and Max Winter, were granted a franchise in the American Football League as they intended to bring professional football back to the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Professional football in Minneapolis, Minnesota was cyclic throughout the 1920's and 1930's with the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets. The NFL had not yet engrossed a significant fan base. But things were about to change, and professional football began to take center stage. The state of Minnesota was ready to showcase a perpetual football organization.

However, several months after the franchise was approved by the AFL, the team's shareholders, as well as Bernie Ridder, withdrew their affiliation with the AFL. Hence, the team joined the National Football League in 1961. At this particular time, the NFL was the preferred professional football league. On September 27, 1960, the franchise was formally branded the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings employed Norm Van Brocklin as the team's first head coach. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton would play his rookie season for the Vikings. The team would stagger the Chicago Bears on opening day in 1961 by defeating the storied franchise 37-13. Still, the Vikings limped through their inaugural season as they won three games versus eleven losses.

The Vikings did not accomplish a winning season until 1964 when they posted a record of 8-5-1.

In 1967, the Vikings appeared primed and ready to rebuild the team with young talent as they traded quarterback Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for four draft picks.

In 1968, their dominant defense guided them to their first NFL Central Division crown. This was also their first post-season berth. In 1969, the Vikings pounded the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in the NFL Championship Game, which earned them their first Super Bowl appearance. In Super Bowl IV, the Vikings were considered the favored team; however, they were upended by the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs by a humbling score of 23-7.

In 1972, the Vikings worked out a deal with the New York Giants in order to bring Fran Tarkenton back to the organization.

The Vikings returned to the Super Bowl again on January 13, 1974 when they faced the defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins. Consequently, they were unable to unseat the Dolphins as they were defeated by a score of 24-7. The very next season, the Vikings won another NFC Championship, earning their third trip to the Super Bowl. This time, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers that denied the Vikings. In Super Bowl IX, the Steelers defeated the Vikings 16-6.

On January 9, 1977, the Vikings returned to the Super Bowl for a fourth time as they would face the Oakland Raiders. Once again, Vikings and their fans were left with the stinging sensation of another Super Bowl flop. The Raiders uprooted the Vikings 32-14.

The 1970's was a bittersweet era for Minnesota Vikings fans. They appeared in four Super Bowl games; nevertheless, they were on the losing end each time.

On August 21, 1982, the Vikings played their first game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as they hosted the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings christened their new home with a 7-3 victory. In 1983, the Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals were featured in the first professional football game played in London. The preseason match-up game, referred to as the Global Cup, was won by the Vikings 28-10.

Following the 1983 season, head coach Bud Grant retired from the NFL. Grant guided the Vikings to four NFC Championships in 17 seasons.

After losing 13 games, Grant returned to the Vikings in 1984. He would retire for a second and final time following the 1985 NFL season.

In 1987, the Vikings returned to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in ten years. Unfortunately for the fans in the Twin Cities, the Vikings were defeated 17-10 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins.

On December 16, 1991, majority ownership of the Minnesota Vikings was turned over to a group of ten investors after Irwin Jacobs and Carl Pohlad sold their shares.

Red McCombs acquired the franchise prior to the 1998 season.

In 1998, the Vikings possessed one of the most dynamic offenses that the league had ever witnessed. Led by quarterback Randall Cunningham, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and rookie wide receiver Randy Moss, the Vikings set an NFL record for points scored in a single season with 556. Throughout their remarkable 15-1 regular season, they never scored lower than 24 points in a game. After a 47-21 dismantling of the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings hosted the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game. Despite being heavily favored, a missed field goal by Gary Anderson, who was enjoying perfect season until then, allowed the Falcons a shot to tie the game and send it into overtime. In the overtime session, the Falcons would kick the game-winning field goal and stun the Vikings and their fans with a 30-27 victory. The defeat was demoralizing in many aspects, but most importantly, this may have been one of the most potent offenses in the history of the game; however, they have no Super Bowl trophy to show for it.

In 2001, the Vikings returned to the NFC Championship Game to face the New York Giants. Disappointingly, they were blanked 41-0.

In August of 2001 during training camp, tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings franchise as offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of a heat stroke.

In 2004, quarterback Daunte Culpepper accumulated 5,123 total passing yards, breaking the record previously owned by Dan Marino. Culpepper led the Vikings to the post-season, but a 27-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles ended their season.

Prior to the 2005 season, Red McCombs sold the Minnesota Vikings to a group led by Zygi Wolf.

In 2006, Brad Childress was named as the new head coach replacing Mike Tice. Prior to the 2006 season, the Vikings traded their Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper to the Miami Dolphins.

With the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Vikings selected running back Adrian Peterson out of the University of Oklahoma.