From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1979 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1979 |
| record | 7–9 |
| division_place | 3rd NFC Central |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Mike Lynn |
| stadium | Metropolitan Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro bowlers | LB Matt Blair |
| WR Ahmad Rashad | |
| uniform | File:Vikings1975-86.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
WR Ahmad Rashad The 1979 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 19th in the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a 7–9 record, their first losing season since 1967, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1972.
The loss of Fran Tarkenton to retirement in the off-season meant third-year quarterback Tommy Kramer became the starter. The season also marked the end of an era as the last remaining original Viking, longtime defensive end Jim Marshall, retired after 19 seasons with the Vikings and 20 in the NFL, having set league records for most consecutive games played (282) and consecutive starts (270). Counting playoff games, he had started in every one of the 289 games in Vikings history. Safety Paul Krause also retired after the season ended; he holds the league record with 81 career interceptions.
Offseason
1979 draft
Main article: 1979 NFL draft
| Pro Bowler |
|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | 1979 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 16 | 2 | 43 | 3 | 72 | 4 | 97 | 5 | 129 | 6 | 152 | 7 | 181 | 8 | 207 | 9 | 236 | 10 | 263 | 11 | 291 | 12 | 317 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Brown | Running back | [NC State](1978-nc-state-wolfpack-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Huffman | Center | [Notre Dame](1978-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** Selection forfeited due to illegal tryout*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Dils | Quarterback | [Stanford](1978-stanford-cardinals-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jerry Meter | Linebacker | [Michigan](1978-michigan-wolverines-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Senser | Tight end | West Chester | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Winkel | Defensive tackle | [Kentucky](1978-kentucky-wildcats-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Baltimore Colts](1979-baltimore-colts-season)*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Billy Diggs | Wide receiver | Winston-Salem State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [New York Jets](1979-new-york-jets-season)*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Nelson | Wide receiver | [Texas Tech](1978-texas-tech-red-raiders-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Stephens | Linebacker | [Kentucky](1978-kentucky-wildcats-football-team) |
Notes
Roster
Preseason
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Week | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Date | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Result | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Record | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Venue | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2 | at [Seattle Seahawks](1979-seattle-seahawks-season) | **L** 9–12 | 0–1 | Kingdome | 60,881 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 11 | at [San Diego Chargers](1979-san-diego-chargers-season) | **L** 0–19 | 0–2 | San Diego Stadium | 49,037 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 18 | [Miami Dolphins](1979-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 10–21 | 0–3 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,790 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1979-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 0–25 | 0–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 39,578 |
Regular season
Schedule
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Week | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Date | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Result | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Record | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Venue | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | [San Francisco 49ers](1979-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 28–22 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,539 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 9 | at **[Chicago Bears](1979-chicago-bears-season)** | **L** 7–26 | 1–1 | Soldier Field | 53,231 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 16 | [Miami Dolphins](1979-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 12–27 | 1–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,187 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 23 | **[Green Bay Packers](1979-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 27–21 (OT) | 2–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,524 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30 | at **[Detroit Lions](1979-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 13–10 | 3–2 | Silverdome | 75,295 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 7 | [Dallas Cowboys](1979-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 20–36 | 3–3 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,572 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | at [New York Jets](1979-new-york-jets-season) | **L** 7–14 | 3–4 | Shea Stadium | 54,479 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 21 | **[Chicago Bears](1979-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 30–27 | 4–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 41,164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 28 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1979-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **L** 10–12 | 4–5 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,906 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 4 | at [St. Louis Cardinals](1979-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **L** 7–37 | 4–6 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,213 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 11 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1979-green-bay-packers-season)** | **L** 7–19 | 4–7 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 52,706 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 18 | **[Detroit Lions](1979-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 14–7 | 5–7 | Metropolitan Stadium | 43,650 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 25 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1979-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 23–22 | 6–7 | Tampa Stadium | 70,039 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 2 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1979-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 21–27 (OT) | 6–8 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 56,700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 9 | [Buffalo Bills](1979-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 10–3 | 7–8 | Metropolitan Stadium | 42,239 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 16 | at [New England Patriots](1979-new-england-patriots-season) | **L** 23–27 | 7–9 | Schaefer Stadium | 54,719 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Awards and records
- On September 2, WR Ahmad Rashad caught four touchdown passes, which remains a Vikings single-game record.
- On November 25, the team blocked four kicks – two extra point attempts, a field goal attempt and a punt by Tom Blanchard – against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This remains a franchise record.
- On December 16, RB Rickey Young caught 15 passes, a single-game franchise record.
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Tommy Kramer | 3,397 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Tommy Kramer | 23 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Rickey Young | 708 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Rickey Young | 3 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Ahmad Rashad | 1,156 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Ahmad Rashad | 9 | |||||||||
| Points | Rick Danmeier | 67 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Jimmy Edwards | 1,103 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Jimmy Edwards | 186 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | Tommy Hannon | ||||||||||
| Nate Wright | 4 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1979 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 28) | Total offense | 4,903 | 306.4 | 19th | Total defense | 5,223 | 326.4 | 18th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 3,139 | 196.2 | 12th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,764 | 110.3 | 23rd | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 2,697 | 168.6 | 11th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 2,526 | 157.9 | 26th |
References
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1979 Minnesota Vikings season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report