| 1961 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| General manager | Bert Rose |
| Head coach | Norm Van Brocklin |
| Home field | Metropolitan Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–11 |
| Division place | 7th NFL Western |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | RB Hugh McElhenny TE Jerry Reichow |
| Uniform | |
 | |
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.
The Vikings' defense surrendered 5.41 rushing yards per attempt in 1961, the fifth-most of all time.[2]
- ^ "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.