NFL Football Team History: The Minnesota Vikings

In August of 1959, three local businessmen, Bill Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, and Max Winter, were granted a franchise in the American Football League as they intended to bring professional football back to the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Professional football in Minneapolis, Minnesota was cyclic throughout the 1920's and 1930's with the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets. The NFL had not yet engrossed a significant fan base. But things were about to change, and professional football began to take center stage. The state of Minnesota was ready to showcase a perpetual football organization.

However, several months after the franchise was approved by the AFL, the team's shareholders, as well as Bernie Ridder, withdrew their affiliation with the AFL. Hence, the team joined the National Football League in 1961. At this particular time, the NFL was the preferred professional football league. On September 27, 1960, the franchise was formally branded the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings employed Norm Van Brocklin as the team's first head coach. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton would play his rookie season for the Vikings. The team would stagger the Chicago Bears on opening day in 1961 by defeating the storied franchise 37-13. Still, the Vikings limped through their inaugural season as they won three games versus eleven losses.

The Vikings did not accomplish a winning season until 1964 when they posted a record of 8-5-1.

In 1967, the Vikings appeared primed and ready to rebuild the team with young talent as they traded quarterback Fran Tarkenton to the New York Giants for four draft picks.

In 1968, their dominant defense guided them to their first NFL Central Division crown. This was also their first post-season berth. In 1969, the Vikings pounded the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in the NFL Championship Game, which earned them their first Super Bowl appearance. In Super Bowl IV, the Vikings were considered the favored team; however, they were upended by the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs by a humbling score of 23-7.