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 "the Scrambler", is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. 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.
James Edward Finks was an American football and Canadian football player, coach, and executive.
Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr. is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.
Christopher John Doleman was an American 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.
Thomas Lee Mack is an American former football guard who played for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland, to Indianapolis, Indiana, before the season.
Willie C. Offord is a former American football safety who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).
The 1961 NFL draft took place at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise. This draft was also the first regular draft for the Dallas Cowboys as they had only participated in the 1960 NFL expansion draft that year.
The 1974 NFL draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City, New York, on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams were granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks.
Michael Lamar Merriweather is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pacific Tigers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played for professionally for the Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Green Bay Packers during the 1980s and 1990s.
Charlie Davis is a former professional American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Davis was a 9th round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Texas Christian University in the 1974 NFL Draft. He played for seven seasons in the NFL. He was a back-up defensive tackle for the Steelers and a member of their first World Championship Super Bowl IX over the Minnesota Vikings, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals Sep 15 1975, for whom he played from (1975–1979), and the Houston Oilers (1980). Charlie played the best game of his career in the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoffs against the LA Rams when he recorded 5 sacks and recovered a fumble.
The 1987 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 38th season in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. The 49ers won the division for the second consecutive season, ended the season as the top seed in the NFC and were heavily favored to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The season ended with an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Brian Cormac O'Neill is an American football offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Patrick Allen Jones II is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh.
Jordan Lee Addison is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he won the 2021 Fred Biletnikoff Award before playing the following season at USC. Addison was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
