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Team History
The Minnesota Vikings came into the league in 1960 as an expansion team. The club quickly tried to build a team around 1961 draft pick quarterback Frank Tarkenton, but traded him away in 1967. The trade and the draft picks helped form the Purple People Eaters, a prominent Vikings defense that included Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall.
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About The Minnesota Vikings
The Purple People Eaters won the NFC Central in 1968 and took the team to its first playoff appearance. The next year the, on the strength of the defense, the Vikings repeated as NFC Central champions with a league best 12-2 record. The team, coached by Bud Grant, won the NFL Championship and went to the Super Bowl IV, which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The team remained dominant in the early ‘70s and Alan Page became only the second defensive player to win the NFL MVP award. The club reacquired Tarkenton and acquired receiver John Gilliam. The new offensive attack and the strong defense won three more conference championships, but failed to produce a Super Bowl victory.
The Vikings had some success in the ‘80s, but did not become contenders until the ‘90s. Dennis Green took over as head coach in the ‘90s and commanded a team with offensive stars like Chris Carter, Robert Smith, Randall Cunningham, and Randy Moss. The team won three division titles, including a year in 1998 that saw one of the highest powered offenses in history.
Quarterback Cunningham, running back Smith, wide receiver Chris Carter, and wide receiver Randy Moss finished the season 15-1. Heavily favored to make to the Super Bowl, the team lost to the Atlanta Famcons in the NFC title game. The Vikings became the first 15-1 team to not reach the Super Bowl.
The years that followed rode on the back of quarterback Dante Culpepper, whose size and athleticism made him a challenge for every defense in the league. Culpepper ultimately was hampered by injuries and the Vikings have been recovering ever since.
The 2008 Minnesota Vikings hope to improve on the 2007 season with the development of its star young players. Running Back Adrian Peterson had a breakout year in 2007, rushing for 1,341 yards his rookie year despite an injury. He finished second in the league to LaDainian Tomlinson. Tavaris Jackson was inconsistent, but showed a lot of potential for a young quarterback.
The 2008 offseason has been a busy one for the Vikings. They signed receivers Bernard Berrian and Robert Fergussen to give Jackson some more targets. The defense has been bolstered with the addition of safety Madieu Williams, cornerback Benny Sapp, and defensive tackle Ellis Wyms. The 17th pick in the draft will most likely be used to help the offensive or defensive line.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome will play home to a growing Vikings team. Fans will surely enjoy Peterson as he continues to run over the competition in 2008, but will get to see Jackson as he continues to develop. The schedule will be easy with the NFC Central division play and its three other teams in limbo.
