Team Facts

Firsts, Records, Odds & Ends

Franchise Granted:

January 28, 1960

First Season:

1961

NFL Championship:

1969

NFC Championships:

1973, 1974, 1976

NFL Central Division Championships:

1968, 1969

NFL Western Conference Championship:

1969

NFC Central Division Championships:

1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000

NFC North Division Championships:

2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2022

All-Time Record:

(At Start of 2025 Season)

537-438-11

Retired Uniform Numbers:

#10 Fran Tarkenton

#53 Mick Tingelhoff

#70 Jim Marshall

#77 Korey Stringer

#80 Cris Carter

#88 Alan Page

  • First Draft Choice: Tommy Mason, HB, Tulane, 1961.

  • First Regular-Season Game: A 37-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, 9/17/61.

  • First Regular-Season Points: A four-yard field goal by kicker Mike Mercer.

  • First Winning Season: 1964 (8-5-1).

  • First Playoff Appearance: A 24-14 loss to the Baltimore Colts in the NFL Western Conference playoff game, 12/22/68.

  • First Super Bowl Appearance: A 23-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, 1/11/70.

  • First All-Pro Selection: HB Tommy Mason, 1963.

  • First Pro Bowl Selections: HB Hugh McElhenny and E Jerry Reichow, 1961.

  • First Viking Elected to the Hall of Fame: QB Fran Tarkenton, 1986

  • First To Rush 100 Yards in a Game: Raymond Hayes, 123 yards vs. the Los Angeles Rams, 12/3/61.

  • First 1,000-Yard Rusher: Chuck Foreman, 1,070 yards (1975).

  • First To Pass 400 Yards in a Game: Fran Tarkenton, 407 yards vs. the San Francisco 49ers, 10/24/65.

  • Most Yards Rushing, Career: Adrian Peterson, 11,747 yards (2007-2016).

  • Most Yards Passing, Career: Fran Tarkenton, 33,098 yards (1961-66, 1972-78).

  • Most Receptions, Career: Cris Carter, 1,004 receptions (1990-2001).

  • All-Time Leading Scorer: Fred Cox, 1,365 points (1963-77).