NFL team season (inaugural)
The 1961 season was the Minnesota Vikings' first in the National Football League (NFL) after being created as an expansion franchise to become the league's fourteenth team. Their inaugural regular season game was a 37–13 victory at home to the Chicago Bears; rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to toss four touchdown passes and run for another. However, under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, the Vikings won just two of their remaining 13 games, including a seven-game losing streak, and finished the season with a 3–11 record.
The Vikings' defense surrendered 5.41 rushing yards per attempt in 1961, the fifth-most of all time.
Offseason
Although the NFL originally had no interest in expanding, after Max Winter and Bill Boyer agreed to start an American Football League (AFL) franchise in Minnesota, the NFL approached them to change leagues. The "Vikings" name was given to the team by Ole Haugsrud, who had been given a 10% stake in the franchise as a result of having sold the Duluth Eskimos back to the league in the 1920s.
1961 draft
Main article: 1961 NFL draft
1961 expansion draft
Main article: 1961 NFL expansion draft
Roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
| Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
| 1
|
September 17
|
Chicago Bears
|
W 37–13
|
1–0
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
32,236
|
| 2
|
September 24
|
at Dallas Cowboys
|
L 7–21
|
1–1
|
Cotton Bowl
|
20,500
|
| 3
|
October 1
|
at Baltimore Colts
|
L 33–34
|
1–2
|
Memorial Stadium
|
54,259
|
| 4
|
October 8
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
L 0–28
|
1–3
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
33,070
|
| 5
|
October 15
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
L 24–38
|
1–4
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
34,415
|
| 6
|
October 22
|
Green Bay Packers
|
L 7–33
|
1–5
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
42,007
|
| 7
|
October 29
|
at Green Bay Packers
|
L 10–28
|
1–6
|
Milwaukee County Stadium
|
44,112
|
| 8
|
November 5
|
at Los Angeles Rams
|
L 17–31
|
1–7
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
|
38,594
|
| 9
|
November 12
|
Baltimore Colts
|
W 28–20
|
2–7
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
38,010
|
| 10
|
November 19
|
Detroit Lions
|
L 10–37
|
2–8
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
32,296
|
| 11
|
November 26
|
at San Francisco 49ers
|
L 28–38
|
2–9
|
Kezar Stadium
|
43,905
|
| 12
|
December 3
|
Los Angeles Rams
|
W 42–21
|
3–9
|
Metropolitan Stadium
|
30,068
|
| 13
|
December 10
|
at Detroit Lions
|
L 7–13
|
3–10
|
Tiger Stadium
|
42,655
|
| 14
|
December 17
|
at Chicago Bears
|
L 35–52
|
3–11
|
Wrigley Field
|
34,539
|
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 1: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears |
0 |
6 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
| Vikings |
3 |
7 |
14 | 13 | 37 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 29-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 17–6.
- MIN – Hugh McElhenny 2-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 24–6.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
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 Fran Tarkenton, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as the Vikings won 37–13. They were the last expansion team to win their first game until the 2002 Houston Texans.
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cowboys |
7 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 21 |
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- DAL – Amos Marsh 6-yard run (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 7–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- DAL – Amos Marsh 20-yard pass from Don Meredith (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 21–7.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 3: at Baltimore Colts
Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
3 |
10 |
10 | 10 | 33 |
| Colts |
7 |
7 |
7 | 13 | 34 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- MIN – A. D. Williams 7-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 10–7.
- BAL – Lenny Moore 4-yard run (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 14–10.
- MIN – Mike Mercer 26-yard field goal. Colts 14–13.
Third quarter
- BAL – Lenny Morre 17-yard pass from Lamar McHan (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 21–13.
- MIN – Mike Mercer 10-yard field goal. Colts 21–16.
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 23-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 23–21.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Lenny Morre 23-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 28–23.
- MIN – Ray Hayes 4-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 30–28.
- BAL – Steve Myhra 37-yard field goal. Colts 31–30.
- MIN – Mike Mercer 29-yard field goal. Vikings 33–31.
- BAL – Steve Myhra 52-yard field goal. Colts 34–33.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 4: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys |
7 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 28 |
| Vikings |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- DAL – Don Perkins 3-yard run (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 14–0'
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- DAL – Frank Clarke 52-yard pass from Don Meredith (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 28–0.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers |
7 |
7 |
10 | 14 | 38 |
| Vikings |
7 |
10 |
7 | 0 | 24 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 42-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 14–7.
- MIN – Mike Mercer 24-yard field goal. Vikings 17–7.
- SF – Billy Kilmer 1-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). Vikings 17–14.
Third quarter
- SF – Billy Kilmer 2-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 21–17.
- MIN – Hugh McElhenny 32-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 24–21.
- SF – Tommy Davis 12-yard field goal. Tied 24–24.
Fourth quarter
- SF – Billy Kilmer 5-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 31–24.
- SF – Billy Kilmer 20-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 38–24.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers |
10 |
3 |
3 | 17 | 33 |
| Vikings |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- GB – Paul Hornung 13-yard field goal. Packers 16–7.
Fourth quarter
- GB – Paul Hornung 16-yard field goal. Packers 19–7.
- GB – Jim Taylor 3-yard run (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 26–7.
- GB – Dan Currie 21-yard interception return (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 33–7.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
0 |
7 |
3 | 0 | 10 |
| Packers |
14 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 28 |
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- GB – Paul Hornung 1-yard run (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 7–0.
- GB – Ron Kramer 10-yard pass from Paul Hornung (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 14–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- MIN – Mike Mercer 13-yard field goal. Packers 21–10.
Fourth quarter
- GB – Max McGee 23-yard pass from Bart Starr (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 28–10.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
7 |
3 |
7 | 0 | 17 |
| Rams |
14 |
3 |
0 | 14 | 31 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- LA – Danny Villanueva 16-yard field goal. Rams 17–7.
- MIN – Mike Mercer 34-yard field goal. Rams 17–10.
Third quarter
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton 52-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Tied 17–17.
Fourth quarter
- LA – Tommy Wilson 14-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Rams 24–17.
- LA – Joe Marconi 7-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Rams 31–17.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
- MIN – Gordie Smith – 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD
- LA – Jon Arnett – 2 receptions, 36 yards
|
|
Week 9: vs. Baltimore Colts
Week 9: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts |
0 |
14 |
3 | 3 | 20 |
| Vikings |
7 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 28 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Steve Myhra 38-yard field goal. Vikings 21–20.
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 28–20.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 10: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions |
0 |
14 |
9 | 14 | 37 |
| Vikings |
10 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- DET – Jim Martin 15-yard field goal. Lions 17–10.
- DET – Gail Cogdill 37-yard pass from Earl Morrall (kick failed). Lions 23–10.
Fourth quarter
- DET – Terry Barr 9-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Jim Martin kick). Lions 30–10.
- DET – Joe Schmidt 8-yard interception return (Jim Martin kick). Lions 37–10.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
0 |
14 |
7 | 7 | 28 |
| 49ers |
14 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 38 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- SF – J. D. Smith 15-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 31–14.
- MIN – Gordie Smith 71-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). 49ers 31–21.
Fourth quarter
- SF – John Brodie 16-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 38–21.
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). 49ers 38–28.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
- MIN – Gordie Smith – 3 receptions, 123 yards, TD
- SF – R. C. Owens – 5 receptions, 138 yards, TD
|
|
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
14 |
7 | 0 | 21 |
| Vikings |
7 |
14 |
14 | 7 | 42 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- LA – Dick Bass 73-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Tied 21–21.
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 28–21.
- MIN – Ray Hayes 2-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 35–21.
Fourth quarter
- MIN – Gordie Smith 12-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 42–21.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
- LA – Dick Bass – 8 rushes, 113 yards, TD
- MIN – Ray Hayes – 18 rushes, 123 yards, TD
Top receivers
|
|
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
| Lions |
0 |
7 |
3 | 3 | 13 |
at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- DET – Jim Martin 23-yard field goal. Lions 13–7.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 14: at Chicago Bears
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings |
14 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 35 |
| Bears |
7 |
14 |
24 | 7 | 52 |
at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- CHI – Willie Galimore 8-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Tied 14–14.
- CHI – Mike Ditka 2-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 21–14.
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Tied 21–21.
Third quarter
- CHI – Angelo Coia 16-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 28–21.
- CHI – Roger LeClerc 17-yard field goal. Bears 31–21.
- CHI – Mike Ditka 30-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 38–21.
- MIN – Gordie Smith 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Bears 38–28.
- CHI – Charlie Bivins 30-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 45–28.
Fourth quarter
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Bears 45–35.
- CHI – Willie Galimore 60-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 52–35.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Awards and honors
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 10-yard pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, and the West won the game 31–30.
Statistics
Team leaders
Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.
League rankings
| Category
|
Total yards
|
Yards per game
|
NFL rank
(out of 14)
|
| Passing offense |
1,989 |
142.1 |
13th
|
| Rushing offense |
1,897 |
135.5 |
6th
|
| Total offense |
3,886 |
277.6 |
12th
|
| Passing defense |
2,926 |
209.0 |
13th
|
| Rushing defense |
2,667 |
190.5 |
14th
|
| Total defense |
5,593 |
399.5 |
14th
|
References
- ^ "Vikings, 49ers, Colts, Eagles win openers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 18, 1961. p. 3B.
- "Cold Hard Football Facts: The 5.0 Club: run defense in '11 lit up like hippies in '69". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- Gruver, The American Football League, pp. 22–23.
- "Unitas' last-second pass nips East; 31–30". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 15, 1962. p. 23. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- "Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
| Minnesota Vikings |
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| Franchise |
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| Stadiums |
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| Culture |
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| Lore |
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| Rivalries |
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| Division championships (21) |
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| Conference championships (4) |
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| League championships (1) |
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| Retired numbers |
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| Current league affiliations |
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Categories:
