Memory Lane - 1976 Minnesota Vikings Preview

Bud Grant will be entering his ten year as head coach and in that time he has one NFL Championship and three Super Bowl appearances but no Super Bowl Trophies. In 1975 the Vikings were 12-2 and in the Divisional round of the playoffs, an uncalled offensive pass interference by Drew Pearson led to the Cowboys win over the Vikings (or outside of Minnesota it’s known as the Hail Mary).

After the 1975 season QB Fran Tarkenton (HOF) owns several career passing records, most attempts, completions and TD’s. But he is 0-2 in the big game and he is 36 years old and time is ticking down on his career. Can he produce another MVP year in 1976 like he did in 1975? He will be leading a unit that was number three in points scored in 1975 and the offense is in its prime, only 3 players over 30 years old. RB Chuck Foreman is entering his fourth year with the club and coming off his first 1,000 yard season and also led the league in receptions with 73 and had 22 TD’s. They lost their leading WR John Gilliam but signed Ahmad Rashad from the Bills. They also drafted WR Sammy White. And at TE is Stu Voigt.

Defensively age is catching up to their unit. Seven of the eleven starters are over thirty years old. Thirty-nine year old DE Jim Marshall (how is Jim not in the Hall of Fame?) is returning along with 34 yr old Carl Eller (HOF) and 31 yr old Allan Page (HOF) (who after pro football became a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice). The defensive line coach is 45 yr old Buddy Ryan. But with that said, the 1975 Viking defense was the number one unit in the NFL in all three categories, rushing, passing and total yards against. Will the defense preform well in ‘76 or will they start to fall off due to age?

1976 Draft additions: DT James White, WR Sammy White, G Wes Hamilton

1975 Rankings:

Tot Yds Off: 5

Tot Yds Def: 1

Tot Pts Scored: 3

Tot Pts Against: 3

1975 Results:

1976 Opening Day Roster:

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