The 1961 Minnesota Vikings season was the first year of season play for the expansion franchise and the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of three wins and eleven losses under head coach Norm Van Brocklin. The team's first ever regular season game was a victory against divisional rivals the Chicago Bears, 37â€"13. In that game, rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to toss 4 touchdown passes and ran for another.
The Vikings' defense surrendered 5.41 rushing yards-per-attempt in 1961, the fifth-most of all time.
Offseason
Although the NFL had no interest in expanding, after Max Winter and Bill Boyer agreed to start an American Football League franchise in Minnesota, the NFL approached them to change leagues. After they accepted to join the NFL for the 1961 season, the Minnesota group joined Ole Haugsrud in the new team's ownership group, with Haugsrud dubbing the team the Minnesota Vikings.
1961 Draft
1961 Expansion Draft
Roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
This was the first regular season game in Vikings history. George Shaw started the game at quarterback for the Vikings, but he was soon replaced by rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton. Tarkenton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as the Vikings won 37â€"13. They were the last expansion team to win their first game until the 2002 Houston Texans.
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 3: at Baltimore Colts
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 9: vs. Baltimore Colts
Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
Week 14: at Chicago Bears
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Postseason
Both halfback Hugh McElhenny and receiver (end) Jerry Reichow were voted to the East-West Pro Bowl game, played January 14, 1962, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The coach for the West squad was Vikings head coach Norm Van Brocklin. McElhenny scored a third-quarter touchdown on a ten-yard pass from West teammate Bart Starr, and the West won a close 31-30 contest.
Statistics
Team leaders
League rankings
References
