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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.

The pro football saga in the Twin Cities began in August 1959, when five Minnesota businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League. Five months later in January 1960, the same ownership group made up of Bill Boyer, Ole Haugsrud, Bernie Ridder, H. P. Skoglund and Max Winter first forfeited its AFL membership and then was awarded the National Football League's 14th franchise that was to begin play in 1961.

Minnesota's first management team was led by general manager Bert Rose and head coach Norm Van Brocklin. From the start, the Vikings embraced an energetic marketing program that produced a first-year season ticket sale of nearly 26,000 and an average home attendance of 34,586, about 85 percent of the capacity of 40,800 Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium. Eventually the stadium capacity was increased to 47,900. 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 Calgary Stampeders, was named as the new general manager. Bud Grant, head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Winnipeg Blue Bombers, became the new Vikings field leader.

On March 7, 1967, quarterback Fran Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants New York Giants for a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1967, a 1st-round choice in '68 and a 2nd-round choice in '69. With the picks Minnesota selected Clinton Jones and Bob Grim in '67, Ron Yary Ron Yary in '68 and Ed White in '69.

The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-7, in the NFL Championship Game on Jan. 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota became the 1st modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL Championship Game, which gave them a berth to the, Super Bowl Super Bowl which the heavily favored Vikings dropped to the Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs 23-7

In 1972 the Vikings traded Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements and a 1st-round choice in '72 and '73 to the New York Giants to reacquire the popular quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

On Jan. 13, 1974, the Vikings played in the 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history against the Miami Dolphins 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.

The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1975. Minnesota earned a trip to Super Bowl IX Super Bowl IX by defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 14-10, at Metropolitan Stadium on Dec. 29, 1974.

The Vikings played in their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years against the Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Jan. 9, 1977. The Vikings however, couldn't break its bad luck in the Super Bowl. Minnesota lost, 32-14. The Vikings earned a trip to Super Bowl XI 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.

On Jan. 1, 1978, the Vikings played Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys in their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years at Texas Stadium Texas Stadium. Minnesota lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs, 23-6.

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.

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 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.

On Jan. 27, 1984, Bud Grant retired as Head Coach of the Vikings. In 17 seasons Grant led Minnesota to 12 playoff appearances, 11 division titles and 4 Super Bowls. His career regular-season record was 151-87-5 (.632). The person that would take his place would be Les Steckel.

Les Steckel, who was an offensive assistant with the Vikings for 5 seasons, was named the 3rd head coach in franchise history on Jan. 29, 1984. Steckel, who came to the Vikings in 1979 after working as an assistant with the 49ers, was the youngest head coach in the NFL in 1984 at age 38.

After Steckel's dismal season, he was fired and on Dec. 18, 1984 Bud Grant was re-hired as the head coach of the Vikings.

On Jan. 6, 1986, following the 1985 season, Bud Grant re-retired as head coach of the Vikings. At the time of his retirement he was the 6th winningest coach in NFL history with 168 career wins, including playoffs. In 18 seasons he led the Vikings to a 158-96-5 regular season record.

Longtime Vikings assistant coach Jerry Burns was named the 4th head coach in team history on Jan. 7, 1986. He served as the Vikings offensive coordinator from 1968-85, when the team won 11 division titles and played in 4 Super Bowls. In his second season, he led the Vikings to the 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.

The Vikings would make what would be considered its biggest blunder in team history. On Oct. 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired Herschel Walker from Dallas for Issiac Holt, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Jesse Solomon, Alex Stewart, a first-round choice in 1992, conditional 1st-round choices in 1990 and '91, conditional 2nd-round choices in 1990, '91 and '92, and a conditional 3rd-round choice in 1992. The final result of the trade gave the Vikings Walker, a 3rd (Mike Jones), 5th (Reggie Thornton) and 10th-round choice (Pat Newman) in 1990 and a 3rd-round choice in 1991 (Jake Reed), while Dallas received all 5 players, a 1st, 2nd and 6th-round choice in 1990, a 1st and 2nd-round choice in 1991 and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round choice in 1992.

On Dec. 3, 1991, Jerry Burns announced his retirement. In 6 seasons as Head Coach of the Vikings, Burns compiled a career record of 52-43 (.547). He also led Minnesota to 3 playoff appearances, including a division title and an NFC Championship Game.

On Jan. 10, 1992, the controversial Dennis Green was named the 5th Head Coach in team history. He came to Minnesota after turning around a struggling Stanford University football program as head coach there from 1989-91.

In his 10 seasons as the coach of the Vikings, he won 4 NFC division, had 8 playoff appearances, 2 NFC championship games and an all time record of 97-62.

The team had 2 disappointing losses of note during Green's tenure. The 1998 NFC Championship game and the 2000 NFC Championship game. The former was lost 30-27 in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons at the Metrodome and the latter was lost 41-0 to the New York Giants New York Giants in the Meadowlands.

Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings in the summer of 2001. Offensive Lineman Korey Stringer Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota Mankato,_Minnesota.

Later in the season, Dennis Green, who was such a polarizing force in the Viking fanbase, despite having a successful coaching tenure with the team, had his contract bought out after a 5-10 season in 2001. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001.

On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice Mike Tice was named the 6th Head Coach in Vikings history. Tice is the 3rd of the 6 Vikings Head Coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but is the 1st Head Coach to have played for the Vikings.

In Tice's first season, the Vikings had a dismal 6-10 record, which he turned around in 2003 with a fast 6-0 start. However, the Vikings ended up going 9-7 the rest of the season, missing the playoffs with a last second touchdown reception by the Arizona Cardinals' receiver Nate Poole. Ironically, the Cardinals hired Dennis Green the following season.

In 2004 the Vikings

2005 Trade Randy Moss to Oakland. Zygi Wilfe Buys the Vikings from Red McCombs. Boat Scandal. The Vikings fire Mike Tice.

2006 Vikings Hire Brad Childress.Team Finishes 6-10

2007 Vikings finish 8-8. Adrian Peterson sets all-time NFL single game rushing record with 296 yards from scrimmage.

Franchise Traditions, Trends:

Helga hatsViking fans are known to dress up in "Helga Hats" or purple hats mimmicking the helmets worn by Viking warriors while invading rival lands.

Fight song: Often during Vikings games, the fans will be led to sing the Minnesota Vikings fight song, which has the following lyrics:

Skol, Vikings! Let's win this game.
Skol, Vikings! Honor your name.
Go get that first down, then get a touchdown,
Rock 'em, sock 'em, fight, fight, fight, fight!
Skol, Vikings! Run out the score;
You'll hear usyell for more.
Vee Eye Kay Eye Enn Gee Ess! Skol, Vikings, let's go!

Skol is the Swedish word for a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group.

Curses:
The Vikings, even though they are a very successful franchise, are faced with championship futility, much like the Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs, the Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs and many other successful franchises in other sports. Many attribute their futilities to "curses". The Cubs have the Billy Goat curse and the Vikings have the more esoteric Kensington Rune Stone curse. The Kensington Runestone Kensington Runestone is thought to be Viking in origin, and was found in Evansville, Minnesota Evansville, Minnesota. Legend has it that the runestone predicts the fate of the Minnesota Vikings in the future.

22 Norwegians on discovery voyage from Vinland over (the) west we had camp by 2 skerries one days journey north from this stone we were and fishe(ed) one day after we came home found 10 men red with blood and dead.

The 22 Norwegians in this reference are a reference to the 22 players that play on a starting offense and defense on a football team. The 10 dead are usually a reference to a massive group of injuries or an offense or defense that plays sub par.

Over the years, the names have changed from Bud Grant,Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman and Alan Page to Dennis Green to Warren Moon, Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel, John Randle and Randy Moss, but Minnesota's winning tradition has remained constant.

Vikings Facts