The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion team, the team began play the following year. They are named after the Vikings of medieval Scandinavia, reflecting the prominent Scandinavian American culture of Minnesota. The team plays its home games at U.S. Bank Stadium in the Downtown East section of Minneapolis.
Francis Asbury Tarkenton, nicknamed "Scramblin' Fran", is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. He is widely regarded as the first great dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he was recognized as a twice first-team All-SEC, and was selected by the Vikings in the third round of the 1961 NFL draft. After retiring from football, he became a media personality and computer software executive.
Thomas Francis Kramer is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) from 1977 to 1990. He played college football for the Rice Owls and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1977 NFL draft after being named MVP of the 1977 Senior Bowl. He was inducted with the 2012 class into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Purple People Eaters was a nickname for the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1977, consisting mainly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Gary Larsen, and Doug Sutherland.
Christopher John Doleman was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers. Doleman was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a twice first-team All-Pro, recording 150.5 career sacks. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012.
George "Buster" Rhymes is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).
Walter Eugene "Chuck" Foreman is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). Considered one of the best passing-catching backs in NFL history, Foreman started in three Super Bowls with the Vikings and was the premiere back for the team for most of the 1970s. Upon entering the league in 1973, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first five seasons of his career. During this time, he was also named once first-team All-Pro team and three second-team All-Pro teams. Nicknamed "The Spin Doctor" for his elusive running abilities, Foreman held the Vikings franchise record for rushing yards from scrimmage upon his retirement. As part of the team's 50th anniversary celebration, Foreman was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Foreman to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2010.
Bobby Bryant is an American former football cornerback who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Sammy White is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).
Richard Angulo is an American football coach and former tight end who is the tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
Martin Nance is a marketing executive and entrepreneur who formerly played as an American football wide receiver. A graduate of Miami University, the University of Michigan and Harvard Business School, he played college football at Miami University in Ohio, where he still holds numerous receiving records.
Douglas A. Sutherland was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Superior in his hometown of Superior, Wisconsin. He was selected in the 1970 NFL draft with the New Orleans Saints and then became a part of the famous Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings from 1971 through 1980, primarily filling in for Gary Larsen in 1975. He played in Super Bowls VIII, IX and XI. He finished his NFL career in 1981 with the Seattle Seahawks.
Douglas Walter Marsh is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for seven seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1980 to 1986. He also played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1976 to 1979. He was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference tight end at the end of the 1979 season.
Douglas Wayne Hart was a professional American football player, a defensive back who played eight seasons for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.
The Austrian Football League (AFL) is the highest level of American football in Austria founded in 1982. The AFL has always been considered among the best and strongest leagues in Europe. The league plays by rules based on those of the NCAA.
Douglas Dewayne Baldwin Jr. is an American former professional football wide receiver. He spent his entire 8-year career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Baldwin is the Seahawks third all-time leader in team receptions and receiving yards, second in receiving touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice and won Super Bowl XLVIII with them over the Denver Broncos.
Douglas Martin is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.
The 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 37th season in the National Football League (NFL). It was the first season under new head coach Greg Schiano after the former head coach Raheem Morris was fired due to the team's record of 4–12 last season. This was Ronde Barber's last season before retiring in the 2013 off-season.
The 2013 Pro Bowl was the National Football League (NFL)'s sixty-third annual all-star game which featured players from the 2012 season. It took place at 2:30 pm Hawaii–Aleutian Time on Sunday, January 27, 2013, at the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game was televised nationally by NBC in place of CBS. The game was delayed for 30 minutes due to flash flood warnings.
Irvin Martin Smith Jr. is an American professional football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted in second round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs.
