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1961 Minnesota Vikings season

NFL team season (inaugural) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1961 Minnesota Vikings season
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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.[1] 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.

Quick Facts Minnesota Vikings season, General manager ...

The Vikings' defense surrendered 5.41 rushing yards per attempt in 1961, the fifth-most of all time.[2]

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Offseason

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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.[3]

1961 draft

Pro Bowler
Hall of Famer
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1961 expansion draft

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Roster

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1961 Minnesota Vikings roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Rookies in italics
, 5 practice squad
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Preseason

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Regular season

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Schedule

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Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 1: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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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.[1] They were the last expansion team to win their first game until the 1996 Baltimore Ravens.

Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
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at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

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Week 3: at Baltimore Colts

Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
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at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

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Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 4: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 5: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 7: at Green Bay Packers

Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
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at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams

Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
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at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

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Week 9: vs. Baltimore Colts

Week 9: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 10: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
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at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

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Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
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at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Week 13: at Detroit Lions

Week 13: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
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at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

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Week 14: at Chicago Bears

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
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at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

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Standings

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Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
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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.[4]

Statistics

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Team leaders

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Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.[5]

League rankings

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References

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