100 Minnesota Vikings Facts Every Fan Should Know

When you think of NFL history, few teams have a legacy as colorful, heartbreaking, and thrilling as the one in Minnesota. Whether you are a die-hard fan who bleeds purple or a casual observer, the “Skol” culture is hard to ignore. To celebrate this legendary franchise, I have put together a massive list of 100 Minnesota Vikings facts that cover everything from the “Purple People Eaters” to the modern era at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Early Years and Franchise Foundations

1. The Minnesota Vikings were officially founded on January 28, 1960.
2. Before settling on “Vikings,” other suggested names included the Chippewas, Miners, and Voyageurs.
3. The team began play in 1961 as an expansion team.
4. Their first-ever regular-season game was a shocking 37–13 upset over the Chicago Bears.
5. In that first game, rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to throw four touchdown passes.
6. The Vikings are the first expansion team to win their inaugural game.
7. Norm Van Brocklin was the team’s first head coach.
8. The iconic horn on the helmet was designed by Karl Taseff, a former player.
9. The team’s colors—purple, gold, and white—were chosen to stand out in the NFL.
10. The Vikings played their home games at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington from 1961 to 1981.

The Bud Grant Era and the Purple People Eaters

11. Bud Grant became the head coach in 1967 and led the team for 18 seasons.
12. Grant is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
13. The “Purple People Eaters” was the nickname for the defensive line in the late 60s and 70s.
14. The primary four members were Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen.
15. Alan Page became the first defensive player to win the NFL MVP award in 1971.
16. Jim Marshall holds the team record for 270 consecutive starts.
17. Marshall is also famous for the “Wrong Way Run,” where he ran a fumble into his own end zone for a safety.
18. The Vikings won the NFL Championship in 1969, the last one before the AFL-NFL merger.
19. Between 1968 and 1978, the Vikings won the division title 10 times.
20. They appeared in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, and XI) under Bud Grant but unfortunately lost all four.

Legendary Players and Records

21. Fran Tarkenton retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
22. Wide receiver Cris Carter was known for his “all he does is catch touchdowns” reputation.
23. Carter caught at least one pass in 157 consecutive games as a Viking.
24. Randy Moss had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever in 1998, with 17 touchdown catches.
25. Adrian Peterson set the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards against the Chargers in 2007.
26. Peterson also came within 9 yards of breaking the single-season rushing record in 2012.
27. John Randle, famous for his face paint, recorded 114 sacks as a Viking.
28. Paul Krause holds the NFL record for most career interceptions with 81 (53 with Minnesota).
29. Mick Tingelhoff started 240 consecutive games at center.
30. The Vikings have retired six jersey numbers: 10, 53, 70, 77, 80, and 88.

Unforgettable Moments and Heartbreaks

31. The 1998 Vikings scored a then-record 556 points in a single season.
32. Kicker Gary Anderson didn’t miss a single field goal all through the 1998 regular season.
33. Anderson’s first miss of the year came in the 1998 NFC Championship against the Falcons.
34. The “Minneapolis Miracle” in 2018 saw Stefon Diggs score a 61-yard touchdown as time expired.
35. The Vikings completed the largest comeback in NFL history in 2022, overcoming a 33-point deficit against the Colts.
36. The “Hail Mary” pass was popularized after the 1975 playoff game where the Cowboys beat the Vikings on a controversial late catch.
37. Brett Favre signed with the Vikings in 2009 and led them to the NFC Championship at age 40.
38. Favre set a record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback while playing for Minnesota.
39. The 2017 defense was the first in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in both third-down percentage and scoring defense.
40. In 2012, Blair Walsh set an NFL record by making 10 field goals of 50+ yards in one season.

Stadiums and Traditions

41. The Metrodome (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) was the team’s home from 1982 to 2013.
42. The Metrodome was famously nicknamed “Thunderdome” due to how loud it got.
43. The roof of the Metrodome collapsed four times due to heavy snow, most recently in 2010.
44. U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016 and features a fixed transparent roof.
45. The “Skol Chant” was inspired by a similar chant used by the Iceland national soccer team.
46. The Gjallarhorn is sounded before every home game to signal the start of the battle.
47. The original Gjallarhorn cracked during a sub-zero playoff game in January 2016.
48. Viktor the Viking is the team’s current official mascot.
49. Before Viktor, a mascot named Hub Meeds rode a motorcycle onto the field.
50. “Skol, Vikings” is the name of the official fight song, written in 1961.

Coaching and Management

51. Jerry Burns was the head coach from 1986 to 1991 and was known for his fiery personality.
52. Dennis Green led the Vikings to eight playoff appearances in ten seasons.
53. Mike Zimmer coached the team for eight seasons, focusing heavily on defensive dominance.
54. Kevin O’Connell became head coach in 2022 and won 13 games in his first season.
55. The Wilf family purchased the team in 2005.
56. The team’s headquarters, TCO Performance Center, is located in Eagan, Minnesota.
57. The Vikings have had 10 primary head coaches in their history.
58. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is known for his “competitive rebuild” philosophy.
59. Bud Grant was known for not allowing heaters on the sidelines during cold home games.
60. The 1989 trade for Herschel Walker is often cited as one of the most lopsided trades in sports history.

Statistical Oddities

61. The Vikings have the highest winning percentage of any NFL team that has never won a Super Bowl.
62. They are tied with the Buffalo Bills for the most Super Bowl appearances without a win (4).
63. Minnesota has won 21 division championships in its history.
64. The team has made the playoffs 31 times since 1961.
65. In 1998, they became the first team to ever go 15–1 and not reach the Super Bowl.
66. Justin Jefferson broke the record for most receiving yards in a player’s first three seasons.
67. Fred Cox, a kicker, remains the team’s all-time leading scorer with 1,365 points.
68. The Vikings once played a home game in Detroit in 2010 because their roof collapsed.
69. They have played regular-season games in London multiple times and remain undefeated there.
70. In 1970, the Vikings became the first NFL team to play in a Super Bowl after winning the league championship.

Modern Stars and Fan Culture

71. Justin Jefferson’s “Griddy” dance became a global phenomenon.
72. Kirk Cousins is the first Vikings QB to throw for 3,000 yards in five consecutive seasons.
73. Harrison Smith, nicknamed “The Hitman,” has been a staple of the defense since 2012.
74. The “Helga Hats” (braided blonde wigs with horns) are a staple of fan attire.
75. The Vikings have a massive fan base in Scandinavia due to the team’s name and heritage.
76. “Bleed Purple” is a common phrase used by fans to show their lifelong loyalty.
77. The team hosts an annual “Vikings Training Camp” which was held in Mankato for 52 years.
78. It moved to the TCO Performance Center in 2018.
79. The Vikings Ring of Honor currently has 28 members.
80. Former player Korey Stringer’s death from heatstroke in 2001 led to major changes in NFL training safety.

Trivia Mix

81. The Vikings are the only team to play in a frozen outdoor stadium, a dome, and a transparent indoor stadium.
82. They once had a kicker named Donald Igwebuike who was also a professional soccer player.
83. The team’s first-ever draft pick was Tommy Mason, a running back from Tulane.
84. Fran Tarkenton was also a successful software executive after his football career.
85. The 1961 Vikings were the only team to beat the powerhouse Green Bay Packers that year.
86. Defensive tackle Alan Page later became a Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
87. The Vikings have appeared in the NFC Championship game 9 times since the merger.
88. During the 1987 strike season, the Vikings “replacement players” went 0–3.
89. Despite the 0–3 start by replacements, the 1987 team made it to the NFC Championship.
90. The 2022 Vikings set a record by winning 11 one-score games in a single season.
91. Wide receiver Adam Thielen grew up in Minnesota as a Vikings fan and was undrafted.
92. Case Keenum was the quarterback during the “Minneapolis Miracle” season.
93. The Vikings played their 2014 and 2015 home games outdoors at the University of Minnesota.
94. The coldest home game in team history was -6 degrees against the Seahawks in 2016.
95. They are one of the few teams to never have a season with fewer than 3 wins (except in 1962).
96. The “Three Deep” era referred to the trio of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed.
97. Daunte Culpepper threw for a then-franchise record 4,717 yards in 2004.
98. The team’s official radio announcer, Paul Allen, is famous for his enthusiastic “And he’s loose!” calls.
99. Minnesota hosted Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2018.
100. The Vikings remain one of the most iconic brands in all of professional sports.

These 100 Minnesota Vikings facts show just how deep the history of this team goes. From the frozen fields of the 70s to the high-tech atmosphere of today, the Vikings have always been a team that commands attention. Whether they are breaking records or breaking hearts, one thing is for sure: being a Vikings fan is never boring.