The team was established January 28, 1960 and officially joined the NFL as an expansion franchise the following season. They were initially part of the Western Conference but moved to the NFC after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
Zygi Wilf, an American billionaire businessman and real estate developer, currently holds ownership of the team. In 2005, he acquired the Minnesota Vikings from Red McCombs for $600 million and presently serves as both chairman and co-owner, alongside his brother Mark and cousin Leonard. Additionally, Wilf is the majority owner of Orlando City in the MLS. Before Wilf, the Vikings changed hands on multiple occasions. The team's original ownership group, composed of five businessmen - Max Winter, E. William Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud, and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr. - established the franchise in 1961 as an NFL expansion team. In 1988, Max Winter sold his ownership stake to a group of ten investors led by Irwin L. Jacobs and Carl Pohlad. In 1991, Wheelock Whitney Jr., Roger Headrick, and Jaye F. Dyer joined the ownership group. In 1998, Red McCombs, a billionaire and automotive magnate from San Antonio, purchased the team for $250 million.
Kevin O'Connell, at 38 years old, is the Minnesota Vikings current head coach and took charge of the team in February 2022 – three days after winning Super Bowl LVI as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. As OC, the Rams ranked 2nd in receiving TDs (41) and had the 5th highest yards in the league (4,893). In his head coaching debut with the Vikings last year, he helped power the Vikes to a 13-4 record, tying NFC North rival Matt LaFleur and current Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh, with second-most wins as a rookie head coach in NFl history. Before coaching, O'Connell played quarterback for San Diego State and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2008, with stints at other NFL teams as a backup QB. His coaching journey began as an offensive assistant with the Cleveland Browns in 2015, followed by a role as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders in 2017, where he later became the offensive coordinator in 2019. O'Connell is known for his inventive offensive schemes, quarterback development skills, and strong leadership.
The Vikings have not won any Super Bowls. They are one of 12 NFL franchises to never hoist a Lombardi Trophy. They have appeared in the Super Bowl four times: 1970, 1974, 1975, and 1977 – losing all four times.
The Vikings have won 21 divisional championships since they were established as a team, making them the team with the most divisional championships in their division, the NFC North. They won two NFL Central titles (1968, 1969), 14 NFC Central titles (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000) and five NFC North titles (2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2022).
The Vikings had their best season ever in 1998, with a record of 15-1. In that year, they won the NFC Central division and made it to the NFC Championship Game, where they failed to reach the Super Bowl by losing to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. That season, the Vikings set several offensive records, like scoring 556 points (the most in NFL history at the time) and having four players (Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Robert Smith) with over 1,000 yards each in their respective categories. To this day, they’re still considered as one of the best teams in NFL history that never made it to the Super Bowl.
The Vikings have an overall franchise record of 516-425-11 with a winning percentage of .548, – the seventh-best team in NFL history by win-loss records. However, they also have a negative playoff record of 21-31 with a winning percentage of .404, the sixth-worst team in NFL history.
Some of the most important players in Minnesota Vikings history have been:
Yes, the Minnesota Vikings have retired six jersey numbers in their franchise history.
The Minnesota Vikings call U.S. Bank Stadium their home, a versatile enclosed stadium located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated in 2016, has a seating capacity of 66,860 seats and it is expandable to 73,000 for special events. It features a transparent roof that welcomes natural light, an expansive video board spanning the field's entirety, and a glass wall showcasing the downtown skyline, offering a unique atmosphere. Beyond NFL games, this venue accommodates various events such as concerts, soccer matches, college sports, and more. Before playing in this stadium, the Vikings played in three different venues: the Metropolitan Stadium (1961–1981), the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982–2013) and temporarily at TCF Bank Stadium (2014–2015).
The Vikings biggest rivals are the teams who are in their same division, the NFC North, and they play each other twice every season, making these matchups even more exciting as the season advances. These are these rivals.
The Minnesota Vikings mascot is Viktor the Viking, a Norse warrior “who was frozen by Thor and thawed in 2007”. He was chosen by the fans in a contest and is a reflection of the prominent Scandinavian-American culture of Minnesota. He often cheers for the Vikings on the sidelines and interacts with the fans. He also has a program called Viktor’s Voyage, where he visits schools and teaches students about health, fitness, and teamwork. Ragnar the Viking is the former official mascot of the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings. From 1970 to 1992, Hub Meeds dressed as a Viking and served as the team mascot.