History of the Minnesota Vikings facts for kids

The Minnesota Vikings are an American football team from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They first planned to join the American Football League (AFL) in 1959. But then, they became an expansion team in the National Football League (NFL) instead. Their first game was in 1961.

The Vikings have played in different divisions over the years. Since 2002, they have been part of the NFC North. They have won their division 20 times and reached the playoffs 30 times. They have won four conference championships (in 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1976) and one NFL title in 1969.

The team has had three main home stadiums in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. These include Metropolitan Stadium (1961–1981), the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1981–2013), and U.S. Bank Stadium (2016–present). While U.S. Bank Stadium was being built, they played at TCF Bank Stadium (2014–2015).

How the Vikings Team Started

Professional football in the Twin Cities area began in the 1920s. A team called the Minneapolis Marines joined the NFL in 1921. But they stopped playing in 1924. They came back as the Minneapolis Red Jackets in 1929 for two seasons.

A new professional team started in August 1959. Three businessmen from Minneapolis, Bill Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, and Max Winter, got a team in the new American Football League. The name "Vikings" came from Harry Gustafson. He was part of a bowling team ownership group with Max Winter. Gustafson kept the legal right to the "Vikings" name. Max Winter later used it for the football team.

Another owner, Ole Haugsrud, joined the NFL team. He had an agreement with the NFL from the 1920s. It said he would get 10% of any future Minnesota team. The ownership group decided not to join the AFL. Instead, they were given the NFL's 14th team on January 28, 1960. The team started playing in 1961.

Early Years (1961–1966)

Bill Boyer was the team president from 1960 to 1964. Bert Rose was hired as the general manager on August 5, 1960. The team decided to use "Minnesota" in its name instead of "Minneapolis–Saint Paul." On September 27, 1960, the team was officially named the Minnesota Vikings. This name showed Minnesota's connection to Scandinavian American culture.

The Vikings had a great marketing plan from the start. They sold almost 26,000 season tickets in their first year. Their home games had an average of 34,586 fans. This was about 85% of the 40,800 seats at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. The stadium's capacity later grew to 47,900. On January 18, 1961, the Vikings hired Norm Van Brocklin as their first head coach.

The Vikings' famous horned helmet and purple-and-gold uniforms were designed by cartoonist Karl Hubenthal. The team still uses these basic designs today.

The Vikings played their first game on August 5, 1961. It was an exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings won their first regular-season game. They beat the Chicago Bears 37–13 in 1961. Rookie Fran Tarkenton led the team with four touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. The new team lost its next seven games. They finished their first season with a 3–11 record.

The team's second season in 1962 was their worst. They won fewer than three games. This is still the lowest winning percentage in Vikings history.

Bert Rose left his GM job in 1964. Jim Finks became the new general manager. The Vikings had their first winning season in 1964. They finished with 8 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. Fans remember the 1964 season for a funny play. Defensive end Jim Marshall picked up a fumble. He ran it to the wrong end zone, scoring for the other team! But the Vikings still won the game, 27–22.

Max Winter became the team president in 1965. The Vikings played their first regular season night game in October 1965. Coach Van Brocklin left the team briefly in November 1965. He came back but then quit for good in February 1967. He said he had lost control of the team. The Vikings then hired Bud Grant as their new head coach on March 11, 1967.

The Purple People Eaters Era (1967–1978)

The Vikings playing against the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.

On March 7, 1967, Fran Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants. The Vikings used the draft picks they got to select key players. These included Clinton Jones, Bob Grim, Ron Yary, and Ed White.

In the late 1960s, the Vikings built a very strong defense. It was known as the "Purple People Eaters." This defense was led by amazing players like Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall. In 1968, this tough defense helped the Vikings win their first Central Division title. They also made their first playoff appearance.

In 1969, the Vikings had an incredible 12–2 record. This was the best in the NFL. They won 12 games in a row after losing their first game. The Vikings won the NFL Championship Game on January 4, 1970. They beat the Cleveland Browns 27–7. This win sent them to Super Bowl IV. The Vikings were expected to win, but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23–7.

The team continued to play well in 1970 and 1971. Their "Purple People Eater" defense was still very strong. In 1971, Alan Page became the first defensive player ever to win the NFL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). The defense helped the team get a 12–2 record in 1970. They won the new NFC Central division. They lost in the playoffs to San Francisco. In 1971, they won their division again with an 11–3 record. But they lost in the playoffs again, this time to Dallas.

The Vikings brought Fran Tarkenton back on January 27, 1972. They traded several players and draft picks to the New York Giants to get him. With Tarkenton and wide receiver John Gilliam, their passing game got better. But their running game was not consistent. The Vikings finished with a 7–7 record. To fix this, they drafted running back Chuck Foreman in 1973.

The Vikings won their first nine games in 1973. They finished the season with a 12–2 record. In the playoffs, they beat the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. On January 13, 1974, the Vikings played in their second Super Bowl, Super Bowl VIII. They lost to the Miami Dolphins 24–7.

The Vikings won the Central Division again in 1974 with a 10–4 record. They were known for playing well in cold weather. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams in freezing Metropolitan Stadium. On January 12, 1975, the Vikings played in their third Super Bowl, Super Bowl IX. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16–6.

In 1975, the Vikings, led by MVP Tarkenton and Chuck Foreman, finished 12–2. They lost in the playoffs to the Dallas Cowboys, 17–14. This game is famous for a controversial touchdown pass called the "Hail Mary."

The Vikings finished 11–2–1 in 1976. They won their division again. They beat Washington and then the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFC Championship. This sent them to their third Super Bowl in four years. But they lost to Oakland 32–14 in Super Bowl XI.

The Vikings' famed Purple People Eaters defensive line stopping a Rams rush in the 1977 NFC Divisional Playoff game.

In 1977, Minnesota won the Central Division with a 9–5 record. But the team was getting older. Fran Tarkenton had an injury that affected his running. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game, 23–6.

By 1978, the Vikings were still good enough to make the playoffs. They had an 8–7–1 record. But they lost to the Rams 34–10. Fran Tarkenton retired at the end of the season.

Ups and Downs (1979–1985)

With Tommy Kramer as the new quarterback, the Vikings had a 7–9 record in 1979. After that season, defensive end Jim Marshall retired. He was the last player from the first 1961 team.

The Minnesota government approved a new stadium in 1979. Construction of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome began in December 1979. A dome was chosen because of the cold Minnesota winters. It could also be used for many other events.

In 1980, the Vikings won the NFC Central again with a 9–7 record. They won a famous game against the Cleveland Browns called the "Miracle at the Met." But they lost in the playoffs. On May 15, 1981, the Vikings moved into a new practice facility. It was named "Winter Park" after Max Winter, one of the team's founders.

The Vikings played their first game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on August 21, 1982. They won 7–3. The first regular-season game there was on September 12, 1982. The Vikings beat Tampa Bay 17–10. A players' strike shortened the 1982 season. The Vikings made the playoffs with a 5–4 record. They won their first playoff game but then lost to the Washington Redskins.

The Vikings played the first American football game in London's Wembley Stadium on August 6, 1983. It was a preseason game called the "Global Cup." The Vikings won 28–10. On January 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as head coach. He had led Minnesota to 12 playoff appearances and four Super Bowls.

Grant was replaced by Les Steckel. Steckel was the youngest head coach in the NFL at 38. The Vikings lost a team-worst 13 games in his only season. After the season, Steckel was fired. Bud Grant was re-hired as head coach on December 18, 1984.

The Jerry Burns Era (1986–1991)

A ticket for the 1988 NFC Wildcard Game between the Vikings and the Rams.

On January 6, 1986, Bud Grant retired for good. He was one of the winningest coaches in NFL history. Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns became the new head coach on January 7, 1986. He had been the Vikings' offensive coordinator for many years. In his first season, the Vikings had a 9–7 record. This was their first winning record in four years. In his second season, he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game.

After the 1987 season, the Vikings made two big upsets in the playoffs. They beat the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. In the game against the 49ers, Anthony Carter set a record for most receiving yards in a playoff game. The Vikings played the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game on January 17, 1988. They lost a close game, failing to score a touchdown late in the game.

On October 12, 1989, the Vikings got running back Herschel Walker from Dallas in a big trade. Walker's performance with the Vikings was not as good as expected. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys used the draft picks they got from the trade to build a team that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s.

Roger Headrick became team president on January 1, 1991. On December 3, 1991, Jerry Burns announced his retirement. In six seasons, Burns led the Vikings to three playoff appearances.

The Dennis Green Era (1992–2001)

The Vikings' ownership changed on December 16, 1991. On January 10, 1992, Dennis Green was named the new head coach. He had been a successful college coach at Stanford. In his 10 seasons with the Vikings, Green won four NFC Central division titles. His teams made the playoffs eight times and reached the NFC Championship game twice. Max Winter, one of the team's founders, passed away on July 26, 1996.

The Vikings played two preseason games overseas in the 1990s. They won in Berlin, Germany, in 1993. They also won in Tokyo, Japan, in 1994.

The Amazing 1998 Season

Before the 1998 season, the Vikings were sold to Red McCombs. The 1998 season was unforgettable for the Minnesota Vikings. After an injury to starting quarterback Brad Johnson, Randall Cunningham took over. The team had an amazing offense. It included running back Robert Smith, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and exciting rookie wide receiver Randy Moss.

The Vikings set an NFL record by scoring 556 points. They never scored fewer than 24 points in any game. The Vikings finished the season with a fantastic 15–1 record. Their only loss was by 3 points. In the playoffs, the Vikings easily beat the Arizona Cardinals. They were favored to win the 1998 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons.

However, kicker Gary Anderson missed a field goal late in the game. He had not missed any kicks all season. This allowed the Falcons to tie the game. The Falcons then won 30–27 in overtime. The Vikings became the first 15–1 team to not reach the Super Bowl.

Back to the Playoffs in 1999

Randall Cunningham started as quarterback in 1999. But after a slow start, Jeff George became the starter. He led the Vikings to an 8–2 record. The team finished 10–6 and made the playoffs. The Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys in the first round. They then faced the St. Louis Rams. The Rams won a high-scoring game 49–37.

Another NFC Championship Appearance in 2000

In 2000, Daunte Culpepper became the starting quarterback. He was a first-round draft pick from 1999. Robert Smith ran for a team record 1,521 yards. The Vikings started 11–2. They made the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. They easily beat the New Orleans Saints in the divisional game. But then, the Vikings lost badly to the New York Giants 41–0 in the NFC Championship Game. Robert Smith retired after this season.

A Difficult Season in 2001

The 2001 season was tough for the Vikings. Offensive tackle Korey Stringer sadly passed away from heat stroke during training camp.

The team struggled throughout the season. They finished with a 5–11 record. After the disappointing season, the Vikings and head coach Dennis Green parted ways. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001.

The Mike Tice Era (2002–2005)

On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the new head coach. He had played for the Vikings as a tight end.

In Tice's first season, the Vikings had a 6–10 record. In 2003, they started strong with a 6–0 record. But they struggled later in the season. They needed to win their last game against the Arizona Cardinals to make the playoffs. On the very last play, the Cardinals scored a touchdown and won 18–17. This shocking loss meant the Vikings missed the playoffs.

Playoffs and Culpepper's Big Season in 2004

In 2004, the Vikings made the playoffs with an 8–8 record. Daunte Culpepper had an amazing season. He threw for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns, which was a Vikings record. He also set an NFL record for total yards.

In the playoffs, the Vikings beat their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, 31–17. This was their first playoff meeting. But in the next round, the Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 27–14.

New Owners in 2005

Red McCombs sold the team to a group led by Zygi Wilf in May 2005.

The Vikings traded wide receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders. They got linebacker Napoleon Harris and draft picks. The Vikings then signed five new defensive players.

The team started the 2005 season with a 2–5 record. Star quarterback Daunte Culpepper suffered a season-ending knee injury. Brad Johnson took over as quarterback. He led the Vikings on a six-game winning streak. This included big wins over the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. The winning streak ended with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings finished the season with a 9–7 record. They were just one win away from the playoffs. Head coach Mike Tice was fired after the season.

The Brad Childress Era (2006–2010)

Before the 2006 season, the Vikings hired Brad Childress as their new head coach. The Vikings started 2–0. They won close games against the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers. They then had a four-week losing streak.

In Week 9 of 2007, against the San Diego Chargers, Adrian Peterson set a new NFL record. He rushed for an incredible 296 yards in a single game! The Vikings finished the 2007 season with an 8–8 record. Adrian Peterson also won the NFL's Rookie of the Year award.

In 2008, the Vikings signed veteran defensive end Jared Allen. They also signed veteran quarterback Gus Frerotte. Frerotte became the starting quarterback and led the Vikings to their first win. The Vikings won the NFC North division for the first time since 2000. But they lost in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 2009, Brett Favre decided to join the Vikings. This caused a lot of excitement, especially among Packers fans. Favre's first game as a Viking was a 34–20 win. He then beat his former Green Bay teammates twice that season. The Vikings won the NFC North for the second year in a row. They secured the No. 2 playoff spot. In the playoffs, they easily beat the Dallas Cowboys.

In the NFC Championship, they faced the New Orleans Saints. It was a long, tough game. Favre was hit many times. The Vikings drove down the field late in the game. But a penalty and an interception by Tracey Porter ended their chances. The Saints won in overtime, 31–28.

The 2010 season was challenging. Brett Favre returned but the team struggled. They traded for Randy Moss again, but he was later released. The Metrodome's roof collapsed due to heavy snow. This forced the Vikings to play home games outdoors. Brett Favre's amazing streak of consecutive starts ended due to injury. The Vikings finished the season 6–10. Brad Childress was fired in November. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier became the interim head coach.

The Leslie Frazier Era (2011–2013)

After Favre retired, the Vikings drafted quarterback Christian Ponder in 2011. They also acquired veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The 2011 season started poorly. The Vikings began 0–4 for the first time since 1962. McNabb was later benched, and Ponder became the starter. The Vikings finished with a 3–13 record. Adrian Peterson suffered a severe knee injury late in the season.

In 2012, the Vikings drafted offensive tackle Matt Kalil. The season started well with an overtime win. In Week 17, the Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 37–34. Adrian Peterson ran for 199 yards in that game. He finished the season just nine yards short of the NFL's all-time single-season rushing record.

The Vikings made the playoffs for the first time since the Brett Favre era. But they lost to the Green Bay Packers 24–10.

In the 2013 season, the Vikings finished 5–10–1. They played a game in London, beating the Steelers. The team had problems with their offense and defense. They used different quarterbacks like Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Josh Freeman. The defense allowed many points. Coach Frazier was fired after the season. This was the last season the Vikings played at the Metrodome before it was torn down.

The Mike Zimmer Era (2014–2021)

After Leslie Frazier was fired, the Vikings hired Mike Zimmer as their new head coach on January 15, 2014. Zimmer had been a defensive coordinator for many years. The team drafted linebacker Anthony Barr and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater later became the starting quarterback. The Vikings improved their record to 7–9.

Adrian Peterson returned to the team for the 2015 season. The Vikings went 11–5 and won the NFC North division. They played the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs. The Vikings had a chance to win with a field goal late in the game. But Blair Walsh missed the kick, and their season ended.

In 2016, Teddy Bridgewater suffered a serious knee injury before the season. The Vikings traded for Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford. The Vikings started 5–0 but finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs. Adrian Peterson left the team. The Vikings drafted running back Dalvin Cook to replace him.

In 2017, Bradford was injured early in the season. Backup quarterback Case Keenum took over. The Vikings had a great 13–3 record. They won their division and earned the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. In the divisional round, the Vikings played the New Orleans Saints. The Saints made a comeback, but with seconds left, Keenum threw a pass to Stefon Diggs. Diggs ran into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown as time ran out. This play is known as the "Minneapolis Miracle." In the NFC Championship Game, the Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 2018, the Vikings signed quarterback Kirk Cousins. They finished with an 8–7–1 record. In 2019, the Vikings went 10–6 and made the playoffs. In the first round, they beat the Saints in overtime. Kyle Rudolph caught the game-winning touchdown. But the Vikings lost to the San Francisco 49ers the next week.

Before the 2020 season, the Vikings traded Stefon Diggs. They drafted wide receiver Justin Jefferson to replace him. The Vikings struggled at the start of 2020. They finished 7–9 and missed the playoffs. Justin Jefferson had an amazing rookie season. He set a new league record for receiving yards by a rookie.

In 2021, the Vikings finished 8–9. They missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. After the season, Mike Zimmer was fired. Kevin O'Connell became the new head coach in February 2022.

The Kevin O'Connell Era (2022-present)

Under Kevin O'Connell, the Vikings started the 2022 season with an 8–1 record. They finished with a 13–4 record, winning the NFC North division for the first time since 2017.

In Week 15, the Vikings played the Indianapolis Colts. They were losing 0–33 at halftime. But the Vikings made the biggest comeback in NFL history! They tied the game 36–36 and won in overtime with a field goal by Greg Joseph.

With their 13–4 record, the Vikings made the playoffs as the 3rd seed. They faced the New York Giants. The Vikings were expected to win, but they lost to the Giants 24–31. The game ended when the Giants' defense stopped the Vikings on their last drive.