1961 Minnesota Vikings season
| 1961 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Norm Van Brocklin |
| General manager | Bert Rose |
| Home field | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–11–0 |
| Division place | 7th NFL Western |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
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, 37–13. 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.
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.
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 37–13. They were the last expansion team to win their first game until the 2002 Houston Texans.
...
Wikipedia