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Minnesota Vikings |
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Over the past 25 years, the Minnesota Vikings have consistently been at or near the top of their division. During that same period, only the Dallas Cowboys have made more playoff appearances. In addition, only four teams have played in more Super Bowls than Minnesota, which has participated in four (Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI). The pro football saga in the Twin Cities began in August 1959, when five Minnesota businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new AFL. In January 1960, the same ownership group—made up of Bill Boyer, Ole Haugsrud, Bernie Ridder, H. P. Skoglund and Max Winter—forfeited its AFL membership and was then awarded the NFL's 14th franchise. The Vikings began play in 1961. Perhaps no team in history ever had a more spectacular debut than the Minnesota Vikings. On September 17, 1961, rookie Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to throw four touchdown passes and run for a fifth to lead the Vikings to a 37-13 thrashing of the fabled Chicago Bears. Twenty-five years later, in 1986, Tarkenton became the first Viking to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Minnesota's first management team was led by GM Bert Rose and coach Norm Van Brocklin. Rose resigned from his position in 1964 and Van Brocklin quit abruptly in the spring of 1967. The Vikings went to Canada to get their replacements. Jim Finks, then general manager of the Calgary Stampeders, was named the new GM, and Bud Grant, head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings field leader. The success of the Vikings over the next two decades always will be highlighted by the image of the stone-faced Grant on the sideline of the frozen field at old Metropolitan Stadium. In their second year under Grant, the Vikings began a stretch in which they won 11 division titles in 13 years. They won the NFL championship in 1969 and NFC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1976. Grant retired in 1983 but came back for a year in 1985 before making his retirement permanent. Grant's 168-108-5 record makes him the eighth-winningest coach of all time. Over the years, the names have changed—from Bud Grant and Fran Tarkenton and Chuck Foreman and Alan Page to Dennis Green to Warren Moon and Cris Carter—but Minnesota's winning tradition has remained constant.
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