Minnesota Vikings Football Team, commonly referred to as Minnesota Vikings or simply Vikings, is one of the most iconic and successful football teams in the National Football League (NFL). Founded in 1961 as an expansion team, the Vikings are based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, and play their home matches at the state-of-the-art U.S. Bank Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 66,000.
Minnesota Vikings have a storied history, boasting 20 division championships, 4 conference championships, and an appearance in Super Bowl. The team enjoyed its most successful era under the legendary coach Bud Grant, who led the Vikings to 4 Super Bowl appearances between 1967 and 1985.
Known for its aggressive defense and potent offense, the team has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Randy Moss, and Adrian Peterson. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Grant era, the Minnesota Vikings remains one of the NFL's most valuable teams, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American football.
Minnesota Vikings is one of the most recognized football franchises in the United States, with one of the highest average home attendances in the NFL. The franchise states that its nationwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Minnesota Vikings Fan Club (MVFC), in at least 24 states. The franchise takes advantage of this support through its nationwide summer tours. Sports industry consultants Forbes estimate that Minnesota Vikings has millions of fans nationwide. The franchise has one of the highest social media followings in the NFL, with over 2 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Minnesota Vikings had some of the most vocal fans in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings was established in 1961 as an expansion team in the National Football League (NFL). The team initially played games against other NFL franchises, but on 17 September 1961, they competed in their first regular season game; wearing the colors of the franchise—purple and gold—they defeated the Chicago Bears 37-13.
In March 1967, the impending advancement of football led to the managerial appointment of Bud Grant, who demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Grant led the team to Super Bowl appearances in 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1976, but failed to secure a victory. Under his leadership, the Vikings won their first NFL Championship in 1969.
On 15 January 1979, Francis Tarkenton, the team's most successful quarterback, announced his retirement from football. He retired as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history. The franchise announced later that year that Tommy Kramer would replace him as the starting quarterback. Les Steckel took over as head coach a few years later, in 1984, when Grant initially retired. However, Steckel’s tenure was short-lived and the team struggled to replicate their earlier success, failing to reach the Super Bowl since their last appearance in 1976.
Originally funded by the Minnesota businessmen, the Minnesota Vikings became a limited company in 1960, and shares were sold to local supporters for a significant amount via an application form. In 1972, majority ownership passed to a group of 10 businessmen who invested a substantial amount to save the team from bankruptcy, including future team president Max Winter. After his tenure, the team faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in 1991 by Roger Headrick, who assumed control of the team after an investment of an undisclosed amount. Headrick promoted his son, Thomas, to the board in 1998, but stepped down two years later; the Headrick family retained ownership of the team through Roger's wife, Linda, but the position of chairman passed to former player Leonard Wilf.
Promoted to the board shortly after the team's financial crisis, Zygi Wilf, a real estate developer, began acquiring shares in the team; for an investment of approximately $600 million, he accumulated a 100 per cent shareholding and took control in May 2005. When Linda Headrick passed away in January 2005, her shares passed to Thomas Headrick, who sold a percentage of his shares to Zygi Wilf's son, Jonathan, in 2005; Jonathan Wilf went on to become vice chairman upon his father's promotion in 2005. Media tycoon Red McCombs attempted to buy the team in 1998, but did not meet Headrick's asking price. In 2005, chairman Zygi Wilf attempted to sell the team to Reggie Fowler for $600 million, but the sale fell through and Fowler joined the board of directors instead.
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the most successful teams in the NFL in terms of division titles won. The team's first trophy was the NFL Western Conference Championship, which they won in 1969. In 1969, they won their first league title and appeared in the Super Bowl for the first time the following year. Since then, they have gone on to win a total of 20 Central or North Division titles—including four in a row from 1973 to 1976—and their total of 4 conference championships is second only to a few. Those titles have meant the team has appeared a total of 4 times in the Super Bowl; though they have yet to secure a Super Bowl victory.
Domestic
Minnesota Vikings History: A detailed history of the Minnesota Vikings Football Team. https://www.vikings.com/history/
Minnesota Vikings - Forbes: Information about the financial status and nationwide fan base of the Minnesota Vikings. https://www.forbes.com/teams/minnesota-vikings/
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