When most fans of football think of the Minnesota Vikings, they often think of the recent teams that have always fielded potent offenses and competent defenses, but which have never seemed to be able to live up to their potential. The Vikings, however, have consistently been among the best in the NFL – as evidenced by their overall franchise winning percentage which is the fifth-best in the NFL. Perhaps the best years of the Vikings franchise began within eight years of the team’s 1961 entry into the NFL. During that period, which began in 1969, the Vikings would consistently dominate the NFL, appearing in four Super Bowls within an eight year period. Though they lost all of those games – and have, in fact, never won a Super Bowl title, the period between 1969 and 1977 can rightfully be thought of as the Age of the Vikings.

The start of the run

Their eight-year run of dominance began with their twelve and two season in 1969, which included a streak of twelve consecutive victories. The Vikings won the right to face the Cleveland Browns in the NFL title game in January of 1970, which turned out to be the last NFL Championship ever played (the next year saw the NFL and AFL officially merge into one league). Their victory over the Browns made them the NFL’s representative in the League’s fourth Super Bowl. Though they lost that contest to the Kansas City Chiefs, it was the beginning of the Viking’s best years.

Until 1977

Minnesota would return to the playoffs in both of the next two seasons, powered in large part by their mighty defense – known as the Purple People Eaters. The 1972 campaign was disappointing due to the fact that the Vikings split their wins and losses at seven apiece. This was in no small part the result of turbulence in the roster as the Vikings reacquired the great Fran Tarkenton from the Giants. That trade paid dividends in 1973, however, as the team was once again rolling through the NFL after a nine-win start, ended with another 12-2 finish, and went on to play against the Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII – which they once again lost.

Super Bowl Blues

Returning to the title game in the ninth Super Bowl, the Vikings once again had a beautiful season come to a crashing and disappointing end as they lost to the Steelers. 1975 was worse, as the Minnesota team made it to the playoffs only to have Roger Staubach beat them in the closing moments of the game when he hurled the now-legendary Hail Mary pass that sent Dallas on to Super Bowl X while sending Minnesota home. The eleventh Super Bowl saw Minnesota once again representing the NFL, and once again failing to secure a title – this time beaten by the Raiders.

It was the team’s third appearance in four years and their fourth in eight. They had managed to lose all four title games, but those losses are not the true measure of the team’s success. The fact is that they did dominate their half of the NFL for much of the early and mid 1970s, despite never winning the biggest game of all.

Freddie Brister is a huge fan of all sports and recommends checking out his Minnesota Vikings Blanket and Kansas City Royals bedding at his shop.