Silver anniversary: Randall Cunningham’s solid gold season with Vikings
NFL
Published on : 10/27/2023
By Ryan Michael
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Editor’s note: This article is the latest in an ongoing series looking at quarterbacks’ achievements that have aged well over the past 80 NFL seasons.)
In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings fielded one of the most prolific offenses in pro football history. The team scored a then-record 556 points, won 15-of-16 regular-season games and knocked on the door of Super Bowl XXXIII.
At the core of Minnesota’s passing attack was quarterback Randall Cunningham.
A 35-year-old veteran who previously had made a name for himself with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham’s resume included three Pro Bowl selections (1988-1990), two second-team All-Pro selections (1988, 1992) and two Bert Bell Awards (1988, 1990).
Sports Illustrated dubbed Cunningham the NFL’s “Ultimate Weapon” for his proficiency as both a passer and a rusher. In an era that pre-dated the running exploits of Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields, Cunningham rushed for 942 yards in 1990 — at the time, the highest mark in NFL history for a quarterback.
At the end of his run in Philadelphia, Cunningham stepped away from football and missed the entire 1996 season. He opened his own granite and marble shop and moved on with life outside of football.
In 1997, Vikings head coach Dennis Green reached out to Cunningham and persuaded him to return to the NFL. His game action for Minnesota was limited that year, starting only five times, including the postseason. There, he led the Vikings to a fourth-quarter comeback victory over the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card round.
The following season opened with quarterback Brad Johnson as the Vikings’ starter. He led the team to a 2-0 record before suffering an ankle injury that thrust Cunningham back into action. It marked the beginning of a run so dominant, Cunningham remained the team’s starter for the rest of the season.
The 1998 Vikings were stacked with offensive talent. Rookie sensation RANDY MOSS (69 receptions for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns) and veteran leader CRIS CARTER (79 receptions for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns) led the way through the air.
Running back Robert Smith (249 carries for 1,187 yards and six touchdowns) provided a constant threat on the ground.
Cunningham finished the season completing 259-of-425 passes for 3,704 yards, 34 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a league-leading 106.0 passer rating. He was named a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press and won the Bert Bell (Player of the Year) Award for a third time.
His dominance was not limited to the regular season. In the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals, he competed 17-of-27 passes for 236 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 112.6 passer rating. Minnesota won convincingly, 41-21, to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Vikings fans probably would prefer this retrospective end here.
Despite being favored not only to beat the Atlanta Falcons, but also to go on to win it all, the Vikings fell short of their goal, losing the NFC title game in overtime, 30-27. It was a gut-wrenching defeat made worse by how the game ended.
Kicker Gary Anderson, who finished the regular season 35-of-35 on field goals and 59-of-59 on extra points, missed a 38-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
In overtime, Falcons kicker and future Hall of Famer MORTEN ANDERSEN was the one who connected on a 38-yard field goal to win the game.
Cunningham battled admirably against Atlanta, producing 279 total yards of offense and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
Despite the loss, the 1998 Vikings will forever be remembered for what they did accomplish on the football field. The record 556 points scored stood for nearly a decade and has been eclipsed only five times. For Cunningham, it was a comeback to football that solidified his place amongst the best quarterbacks who have played the game.
Ryan Michael is statistician, sportswriter and contributor to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @theryanmichael .
This article is the latest in an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy quarterback play over the past 80 seasons. Information from Pro-Football-Reference.com’s database helped make the research possible.
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Editor’s note: This article is the latest in an ongoing series looking at quarterbacks’ achievements that have aged well over the past 80 NFL seasons.)
In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings fielded one of the most prolific offenses in pro football history. The team scored a then-record 556 points, won 15-of-16 regular-season games and knocked on the door of Super Bowl XXXIII.
At the core of Minnesota’s passing attack was quarterback Randall Cunningham.
A 35-year-old veteran who previously had made a name for himself with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham’s resume included three Pro Bowl selections (1988-1990), two second-team All-Pro selections (1988, 1992) and two Bert Bell Awards (1988, 1990).
Sports Illustrated dubbed Cunningham the NFL’s “Ultimate Weapon” for his proficiency as both a passer and a rusher. In an era that pre-dated the running exploits of Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields, Cunningham rushed for 942 yards in 1990 — at the time, the highest mark in NFL history for a quarterback.
At the end of his run in Philadelphia, Cunningham stepped away from football and missed the entire 1996 season. He opened his own granite and marble shop and moved on with life outside of football.
In 1997, Vikings head coach Dennis Green reached out to Cunningham and persuaded him to return to the NFL. His game action for Minnesota was limited that year, starting only five times, including the postseason. There, he led the Vikings to a fourth-quarter comeback victory over the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card round.
Randall Cunningham steps in, Vikings dominate
The following season opened with quarterback Brad Johnson as the Vikings’ starter. He led the team to a 2-0 record before suffering an ankle injury that thrust Cunningham back into action. It marked the beginning of a run so dominant, Cunningham remained the team’s starter for the rest of the season.
The 1998 Vikings were stacked with offensive talent. Rookie sensation RANDY MOSS (69 receptions for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns) and veteran leader CRIS CARTER (79 receptions for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns) led the way through the air.
Running back Robert Smith (249 carries for 1,187 yards and six touchdowns) provided a constant threat on the ground.
Cunningham finished the season completing 259-of-425 passes for 3,704 yards, 34 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a league-leading 106.0 passer rating. He was named a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press and won the Bert Bell (Player of the Year) Award for a third time.
His dominance was not limited to the regular season. In the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals, he competed 17-of-27 passes for 236 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 112.6 passer rating. Minnesota won convincingly, 41-21, to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Vikings fans probably would prefer this retrospective end here.
Accomplishments of Randall Cunningham's team not forgotten
Despite being favored not only to beat the Atlanta Falcons, but also to go on to win it all, the Vikings fell short of their goal, losing the NFC title game in overtime, 30-27. It was a gut-wrenching defeat made worse by how the game ended.
Kicker Gary Anderson, who finished the regular season 35-of-35 on field goals and 59-of-59 on extra points, missed a 38-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
In overtime, Falcons kicker and future Hall of Famer MORTEN ANDERSEN was the one who connected on a 38-yard field goal to win the game.
Cunningham battled admirably against Atlanta, producing 279 total yards of offense and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
Despite the loss, the 1998 Vikings will forever be remembered for what they did accomplish on the football field. The record 556 points scored stood for nearly a decade and has been eclipsed only five times. For Cunningham, it was a comeback to football that solidified his place amongst the best quarterbacks who have played the game.
Ryan Michael is statistician, sportswriter and contributor to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @theryanmichael .
This article is the latest in an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy quarterback play over the past 80 seasons. Information from Pro-Football-Reference.com’s database helped make the research possible.
More of this series
- Analysis: Charlie Conerly’s giant accomplishments hold up as eras pass
- Y.A. Tittle’s journey from San Francisco to New York
- Analysis: An appreciation of Sammy Baugh’s historic 1943 season
- Legendary seasons for Sid Luckman, Peyton Manning separated by 70 years
- Looking back at TB12’s historic 2011 season 12 years later
- Russell Wilson’s decade of dominance in Seattle remains elite
- Roger Staubach’s 1971: The greatest season you’ve never heard about
- Silver anniversary: Randall Cunningham’s solid gold season with Vikings
- 50 years since Unitas’ last pass: Some things you might not know about No. 19
- Race to the top: Brady’s battle with Brees for the NFL’s most hallowed record
- Analysis: Did Andrew Luck exceed hype or fall short?
- Silver anniversary of John’s Elway’s sterling final game
- As cold as ice: Perception of Matt Ryan’s legacy after ‘28-3’
Previous Article
Gold Jacket Spotlight: No reason for ‘Mr. Clean’ Jerry Rice to fear failure
Catching bricks and playing hooky helped launch Jerry Rice's football career, which this week is featured in the Gold Jacket Spotlight.
Next Article
Sam Mills' family to receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence
Panthers to honor former linebacker with on field ceremony during Week 8 of NFL season.