The 1961 Minnesota Vikings season was the first year of season play for the expansion franchise and the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of three wins and eleven losses under head coach Norm Van Brocklin. The team's first ever regular season game was a victory against the Chicago Bears, 37-13. In that game, rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to toss 4 touchdown passes and ran for another.
Offseason
1961 NFL Draft
With the first overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected running back Tommy Mason from Tulane University. In the third round, the Vikings selected quarterback Fran Tarkenton, a future hall-of-famer and he later would finish his professional football career as the franchise record holder for most passing yards (33,098) and passing touchdowns (239).
Expansion acquisitions
Regular season
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Venue |
Attendance |
Record |
| 1 |
1961-09-17 |
Chicago Bears |
W 37-13 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
32,236 |
1-0 |
| 2 |
1961-09-24 |
Dallas Cowboys |
L 21-7 |
Cotton Bowl |
20,500 |
1-1 |
| 3 |
1961-10-01 |
Baltimore Colts |
L 34-33 |
Memorial Stadium |
54,259 |
1-2 |
| 4 |
1961-10-08 |
Dallas Cowboys |
L 28-0 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
33,070 |
1-3 |
| 5 |
1961-10-15 |
San Francisco 49ers |
L 38-24 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
34,415 |
1-4 |
| 6 |
1961-10-22 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 33-7 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
42,007 |
1-5 |
| 7 |
1961-10-29 |
Green Bay Packers |
L 28-10 |
Milwaukee County Stadium |
44,112 |
1-6 |
| 8 |
1961-11-05 |
Los Angeles Rams |
L 31-17 |
Los Angeles Coliseum |
38,594 |
1-7 |
| 9 |
1961-11-12 |
Baltimore Colts |
W 28-20 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
33,010 |
2-7 |
| 10 |
1961-11-19 |
Detroit Lions |
L 37-10 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
32,296 |
2-8 |
| 11 |
1961-11-26 |
San Francisco 49ers |
L 38-28 |
Kezar Stadium |
43,905 |
2-9 |
| 12 |
1961-12-03 |
Los Angeles Rams |
W 42-21 |
Metropolitan Stadium |
30,068 |
3-9 |
| 13 |
1961-12-10 |
Detroit Lions |
L 13-7 |
Briggs Stadium |
42,655 |
3-10 |
| 14 |
1961-12-17 |
Chicago Bears |
L 52-35 |
Wrigley Field |
34,539 |
3-11 |
Standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
See also
References
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Minnesota Vikings |
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| Founded in 1961 • Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Franchise |
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| Division championships (16) |
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2008
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| Super Bowl appearances (4) |
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| Retired numbers |
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| Seasons |
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| Current league affiliations |
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