1989 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1989 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 29th in the National Football League (NFL). They finished with a 10–6 record to win the NFC Central Division. This title was secured during one of what is considered by many to be among the most exciting Monday Night Football contests ever: a Christmas Day victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at home, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which was the de facto first playoff game of the year. The Vikings were beaten 41–13 in the divisional round of the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

1989 Minnesota Vikings season
General manager	Mike Lynn
Head coach	Jerry Burns
Home stadium	Metrodome
Results
Record	10–6
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoffs	Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 13–41
All-Pros	DE Chris Doleman (1st team) DT Keith Millard (1st team) S Joey Browner (2nd team)
Pro Bowlers	S Joey Browner WR Anthony Carter DE Chris Doleman TE Steve Jordan CB Carl Lee G Randall McDaniel T Gary Zimmerman
Uniform
← 1988 Vikings seasons 1990 →

This season was also notable for the number of sacks the defense recorded: 71 overall, with 39 coming from only two players (Chris Doleman and Keith Millard). Millard was named the Defensive Player of the Year after putting up record numbers by a defensive tackle.

Offseason

1989 draft

Main article: 1989 NFL draft

1989 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection
1	24	Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers[A]
2	52	David Braxton	Linebacker	Wake Forest
3	80	John Hunter	Offensive tackle	BYU
4	108	Darryl Ingram	Tight end	California
5	136	Pick forfeited during 1988 supplemental draft[B]
6	163	Jeff Mickel	Offensive tackle	Eastern Washington
7	191	Benji Roland	Defensive end	Auburn
8	219	Alex Stewart	Defensive end	Cal State Fullerton
9	247	Traded to the New England Patriots[C]
10	275	Traded to the Miami Dolphins[D]
11	303	Brad Baxter	Running back	Alabama State
12	331	Shawn Woodson	Linebacker	James Madison
	335	Everett Ross	Wide receiver	Ohio State	From 49ers, via Raiders[E]

Notes:

1. The Vikings traded their first-round selection (24th overall) to the Steelers in exchange for LB Mike Merriweather.
2. The Vikings forfeited their fifth-round selection (136th overall) after selecting DB Ryan Bethea in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL supplemental draft.
3. The Vikings traded their ninth-round selection (247th overall) to the Patriots in exchange for a 1988 11th-round selection (296th overall).
4. The Vikings traded their 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Dolphins in exchange for OT Greg Koch.
5. The Vikings traded their 1990 11th-round selection to the Raiders in exchange for the 12th-round selection the Raiders received from the 49ers.

Undrafted free agents

1989 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Pat Beaty	Kicker	North Dakota
Robert Carter	Running back	Troy State
Jarrod Delaney	Wide receiver	TCU
Darrell Ellison	Linebacker	Tulsa
Devin Harberts	Wide receiver	Iowa
Ken Johnson	Defensive back	Florida A&M
Andy Keeler	Guard	Nebraska
Tony Peterson	Quarterback	Marshall
Everett Ross	Wide receiver	Ohio State
Pat Thompson	Punter	BYU

Staff

1989 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr. General manager – Mike Lynn Head coaches Head coach – Jerry Burns Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Bob Schnelker Assistant offensive coordinator/passing game – Dick Rehbein Running backs – John Brunner Wide receivers – Jerry Brown Offensive line – John Michels

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Floyd Peters Defensive line – Paul Wiggin Linebackers – Monte Kiffin Defensive backs – Pete Carroll Special teams coaches Special teams/tight ends – Tom Batta

^[1]

Roster

1989 Minnesota Vikings roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 16 Rich Gannon  9 Tommy Kramer 11 Wade Wilson Running backs (RB) 46 Alfred Anderson FB 33 Jessie Clark 42 D. J. Dozier KR 31 Rick Fenney FB 34 Herschel Walker KR Wide receivers (WR) 81 Anthony Carter 80 Jim Gustafson 84 Hassan Jones 87 Leo Lewis PR Tight ends (TE) 86 Darryl Ingram 83 Steve Jordan 85 Brent Novoselsky

Offensive linemen (OL) 62 Chris Foote C 74 Brian Habib T/G 72 Dave Huffman G 76 Tim Irwin T 69 Todd Kalis G 63 Kirk Lowdermilk C 64 Randall McDaniel G 65 Gary Zimmerman T Defensive linemen (DL) 71 Ken Clarke DT 56 Chris Doleman DE 79 Doug Martin DE 75 Keith Millard DT 99 Al Noga DE 94 Thomas Strauthers DE 97 Henry Thomas DT

Linebackers (LB) 50 Ray Berry OLB 53 David Braxton OLB 59 Mark Dusbabek OLB 90 John Galvin MLB 57 Mike Merriweather OLB 55 Scott Studwell MLB Defensive backs (DB) 44 Mike Brim CB 47 Joey Browner SS 49 Travis Curtis FS 27 Brad Edwards FS 29 Darrell Fullington FS 39 Carl Lee CB 26 Audray McMillian CB/S 48 Reggie Rutland CB Special teams (ST)  3 Rich Karlis K 60 Mark Rodenhauser LS 13 Bucky Scribner P

Practice squad 32 Rick Bayless RB —- John Buddenberg LB -- Jarrod Delaney WR 22 Ken Johnson CB/S Reserve -- Curtis Greer DE (IR) 82 Carl Hilton TE (IR) 52 Randy Rasmussen C/G (IR) 36 Allen Rice RB (IR) Rookies in italics 47 active, 4 reserve, 4 practice squad

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance[2]
1	August 12	vs Kansas City Chiefs	W 23–13	1–0	Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN)	63,528
2	August 21	Washington Redskins	W 24–13	2–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	50,213
3	August 26	at Los Angeles Rams	L 14–24	2–1	Anaheim Stadium	45,087
4	September 1	Cincinnati Bengals	W 17–10	3–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	49,867

Regular season

The defensive line of Chris Doleman, Keith Millard, Al Noga and Henry Thomas were key contributors in helping the Vikings rank number one in the NFL in total defense. In addition, the Vikings set a franchise record with 71 sacks in one season. Chris Doleman had 21 sacks and was one shy of tying the NFL record.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 10	Houston Oilers	W 38–7	1–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	54,015
2	September 17	at Chicago Bears	L 7–38	1–1	Soldier Field	66,475
3	September 24	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 14–27	1–2	Three Rivers Stadium	50,744
4	October 1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 17–3	2–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	54,817
5	October 8	Detroit Lions	W 24–17	3–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	55,380
6	October 15	Green Bay Packers	W 26–14	4–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	62,075
7	October 22	at Detroit Lions	W 20–7	5–2	Silverdome	51,579
8	October 30	at New York Giants	L 14–24	5–3	Giants Stadium	76,041
9	November 5	Los Angeles Rams	W 23–21 (OT)	6–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	59,600
10	November 12	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 24–10	7–3	Tampa Stadium	56,271
11	November 19	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 9–10	7–4	Veterans Stadium	65,944
12	November 26	at Green Bay Packers	L 19–20	7–5	Milwaukee County Stadium	55,592
13	December 3	Chicago Bears	W 27–16	8–5	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	60,664
14	December 10	Atlanta Falcons	W 43–17	9–5	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	58,116
15	December 17	at Cleveland Browns	L 17–23 (OT)	9–6	Cleveland Stadium	70,777
16	December 25	Cincinnati Bengals	W 29–21	10–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	58,829

Game summaries

Week 2 at Chicago Bears

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	7	0	0	7
Bears	7	3	0	28	38

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: September 17, 1989
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Overcast, 62 °F (17 °C)
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers MIN – Wade Wilson – 24/42, 253 yards, TD, 4 INT CHI – Mike Tomczak – 10/26, 142 yards, TD, INT Top rushers MIN – Alfred Anderson – 5 rushes, 25 yards CHI – Neal Anderson – 23 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD Top receivers MIN – Anthony Carter – 6 receptions, 80 yards CHI – Neal Anderson – 3 receptions, 58 yards, TD

Week 6 vs Green Bay Packers

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	0	0	7	14
Vikings	0	17	9	0	26

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: October 15, 1989
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Top passers GB – Don Majkowski – 9/24, 198 yards, TD, 2 INT MIN – Tommy Kramer – 14/24, 172 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers GB – Keith Woodside – 3 rushes, 36 yards MIN – Herschel Walker – 18 rushes, 148 yards Top receivers GB – Sterling Sharpe – 2 receptions, 82 yards MIN – Hassan Jones – 4 receptions, 68 yards

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Minnesota Vikings(3)	10	6	0	.625	6–2	8–4	362	356	W1
Green Bay Packers	10	6	0	.625	5–3	10–4	362	275	W2
Detroit Lions	7	9	0	.438	4–4	6–6	312	364	W5
Chicago Bears	6	10	0	.375	2–6	4–8	358	377	L6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	11	0	.313	3–5	5–7	320	419	L4

Postseason

See also: 1989–90 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent (seed)	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
Wild Card	Bye
Divisional	January 6	at San Francisco 49ers (1)	L 13–41	0–1	Candlestick Park	64,585

Herschel Walker trade

Main article: Herschel Walker trade

In 1989, at the height of his NFL career, the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a total of five players (LB Jesse Solomon, DB Issiac Holt, RB Darrin Nelson, LB David Howard, DE Alex Stewart) and six draft picks (which led to Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson). This was judged to be one of the turning points in the rise of the Cowboys to the top echelon of the NFL. Walker's trade was widely perceived as an exceptionally poor move considering what the Vikings had to give up in order to get him, and remains one of the most frequently vilified roster moves of the team's history. The Vikings coaches reluctantly accepted Walker after the trade and never totally used the tool they had been given. Scout.com says, "Walker was never used properly by the coaching brain trust (a total oxymoron in this case)".^[3]

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Wade Wilson	2,543
Passing touchdowns	Wade Wilson	9
Rushing yards	Herschel Walker	669
Rushing touchdowns	Herschel Walker	5
Receiving yards	Anthony Carter	1,066
Receiving touchdowns	Anthony Carter	4
Points	Rich Karlis	120
Kickoff return yards	Herschel Walker	374
Punt return yards	Leo Lewis	446
Tackles	Chris Doleman Henry Thomas	94
Sacks	Chris Doleman	21.0
Interceptions	Joey Browner	5
Forced fumbles	Chris Doleman	5

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 28)
Passing offense	3,189	199.3	17th
Rushing offense	2,066	129.1	7th
Total offense	5,255	328.4	14th
Passing defense	2,501	156.3	1st
Rushing defense	1,683	105.2	11th
Total defense	4,184	261.5	1st

Awards and records

• Keith Millard – NFL Defensive Player of the Year (AP, UPI, PFWA)
• Chris Doleman – NFL sacks leader (21.0)
• Randall McDaniel – NFC Pro Bowl selection

Milestones

• Chris Doleman, third player in NFL history to reach 20 sacks in a season
• Chris Doleman, franchise record, 21 sacks