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1985 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1985 |
| record | 7–9 |
| division_place | 3rd NFC Central |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Mike Lynn |
| owner | Max Winter |
| stadium | Metrodome |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro bowlers | S Joey Browner |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
The 1985 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 25th in the National Football League. Under returning head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 7–9 record and missed the playoffs for a third season in a row. At the end of the season, Grant retired for good after 18 years with the franchise.
Offseason
1985 draft
Main article: 1985 NFL draft
| Pro Bowler |
|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | 1985 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 3 | 59 | 60 | 66 | 4 | 85 | 106 | 5 | 115 | 6 | 142 | 164 | 7 | 171 | 8 | 198 | 9 | 227 | 10 | 254 | 11 | 283 | 12 | 310 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Traded to the [Atlanta Falcons](1985-atlanta-falcons-season)*** | from [Oilers](1985-houston-oilers-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Houston Oilers](1985-houston-oilers-season)*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Doleman | Defensive end | [Pittsburgh](1984-pittsburgh-panthers-football-team) | from [Falcons](1985-atlanta-falcons-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issiac Holt | Cornerback | [Alcorn State](1984-alcorn-state-braves-football-team) | Provisional trade but was not exercise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Lowdermilk | Center | [Ohio State](1984-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Meamber | Linebacker | [Washington](1984-washington-huskies-football-team) | from [Falcons](1985-atlanta-falcons-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Long | Offensive tackle | [Memphis State](1984-memphis-state-tigers-football-team) | from [Chargers](1985-san-diego-chargers-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Rhymes | Wide receiver | [Oklahoma](1984-oklahoma-sooners-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyle Morrell | Defensive back | [BYU](1984-byu-cougars-football-team) | from [Rams](1985-los-angeles-rams-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark MacDonald | Guard | [Boston College](1984-boston-college-eagles-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Bono | Quarterback | [UCLA](1984-ucla-bruins-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Newton | Defensive tackle | [Florida](1984-florida-gators-football-team) | from [Raiders](1985-los-angeles-raiders-season) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Green Bay Packers](1985-green-bay-packers-season)*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nikita Blair | Linebacker | [UTEP](1984-utep-miners-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamie Covington | Running back | [Syracuse](1984-syracuse-orangemen-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juan Johnson | Wide receiver | Langston | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Williams | Defensive back | [North Carolina A&T](1984-north-carolina-a-t-aggies-football-team) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Byron Jones | Defensive tackle | [Tulsa](1984-tulsa-golden-hurricane-football-team) |
Notes
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 10 | at [Miami Dolphins](1985-miami-dolphins-season) | **W** 16–13 (OT) | 1–0 | Miami Orange Bowl | 41,129 | |||||
| August 17 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1985-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **W** 41–34 | 2–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 56,887 | |||||
| August 24 | [Seattle Seahawks](1985-seattle-seahawks-season) | **L** 10–27 | 2–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 56,562 | |||||
| August 30 | at [Denver Broncos](1985-denver-broncos-season) | **W** 13–9 | 3–1 | Mile High Stadium | 69,373 |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | [San Francisco 49ers](1985-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 28–21 | 1–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 57,375 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 15 | at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1985-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **W** 31–16 | 2–0 | Tampa Stadium | 46,188 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 19 | [Chicago Bears](1985-chicago-bears-season) | **L** 24–33 | 2–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 61,242 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 29 | at [Buffalo Bills](1985-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 27–20 | 3–1 | Rich Stadium | 45,667 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 6 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1985-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 10–13 | 3–2 | Anaheim Stadium | 61,139 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 13 | at [Green Bay Packers](1985-green-bay-packers-season) | **L** 17–20 | 3–3 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 54,674 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 20 | [San Diego Chargers](1985-san-diego-chargers-season) | **W** 21–17 | 4–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 61,670 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 27 | at Chicago Bears | **L** 9–27 | 4–4 | Soldier Field | 63,815 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 3 | [Detroit Lions](1985-detroit-lions-season) | **W** 16–13 | 5–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 58,012 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 10 | Green Bay Packers | **L** 17–27 | 5–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 59,970 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 17 | at Detroit Lions | **L** 21–41 | 5–6 | Silverdome | 54,647 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 24 | [New Orleans Saints](1985-new-orleans-saints-season) | **L** 23–30 | 5–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 54,117 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 1 | at [Philadelphia Eagles](1985-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **W** 28–23 | 6–7 | Veterans Stadium | 54,688 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | **W** 26–7 | 7–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 51,593 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 15 | at [Atlanta Falcons](1985-atlanta-falcons-season) | **L** 13–14 | 7–8 | Atlanta Fulton County Stadium | 14,167 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | **L** 35–37 | 7–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 49,722 |
Standings
Personnel
Staff
- President – Max Winter
- General manager – Mike Lynn
- Head coach – Bud Grant
- Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator – Jerry Burns
- Running backs – Marc Trestman
- Receivers – Dick Rehbein
- Offensive line – John Michels
- Defensive coordinator – Bob Hollway
- Defensive line – Paul Wiggin
- Linebackers – Floyd Reese
- Defensive backs – Pete Carroll
- Special teams – Tom Batta
Roster
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Tommy Kramer | 3,522 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Tommy Kramer | 19 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Darrin Nelson | 893 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Ted Brown | 7 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Anthony Carter | 821 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Anthony Carter | 8 | |||||||||
| Points | Jan Stenerud | 86 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Buster Rhymes | 1,345 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Darrin Nelson | 133 | |||||||||
| Tackles | Chris Doleman | 113 | |||||||||
| Sacks | Keith Millard | 11.0 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | John Turner | 5 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1985 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 28) | Total offense | 5,151 | 321.9 | 16th | Total defense | 5,464 | 341.5 | 16th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 3,635 | 227.2 | 7th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,516 | 94.8 | 27th | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 3,241 | 202.6 | 15th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 2,223 | 138.9 | 22nd |
25th anniversary team
The team recognized an all-time team in 1985 as part of the celebration of the 25th season.
| Position | Player | Tenure | Minnesota Vikings | border=2}}" | Offense | Minnesota Vikings | border=2}}" | Defense | Minnesota Vikings | border=2}}" | Special teams | Minnesota Vikings | border=2}}" | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Fran Tarkenton | 1961–1966, | ||||||||||||
| 1972–1978 | ||||||||||||||
| RB | Bill Brown | 1962–1974 | ||||||||||||
| Chuck Foreman | 1973–1979 | |||||||||||||
| WR | Ahmad Rashad | 1976–1982 | ||||||||||||
| Sammy White | 1976–1985 | |||||||||||||
| TE | Stu Voigt | 1970–1980 | ||||||||||||
| OT | Ron Yary | 1968–1981 | ||||||||||||
| Grady Alderman | 1961–1975 | |||||||||||||
| G | Ed White | 1969–1977 | ||||||||||||
| Milt Sunde | 1964–1974 | |||||||||||||
| C | Mick Tingelhoff | 1962–1978 | ||||||||||||
| DE | Jim Marshall | 1961–1979 | ||||||||||||
| Carl Eller | 1964–1978 | |||||||||||||
| DT | Alan Page | 1967–1978 | ||||||||||||
| Gary Larsen | 1965–1974 | |||||||||||||
| OLB | Matt Blair | 1974–1985 | ||||||||||||
| Roy Winston | 1962–1976 | |||||||||||||
| MLB | Jeff Siemon | 1972–1982 | ||||||||||||
| Scott Studwell | 1977–1990 | |||||||||||||
| CB | Bobby Bryant | 1968–1980 | ||||||||||||
| Ed Sharockman | 1961–1972 | |||||||||||||
| S | Paul Krause | 1968–1979 | ||||||||||||
| Karl Kassulke | 1963–1972 | |||||||||||||
| K | Fred Cox | 1963–1977 | ||||||||||||
| P | Greg Coleman | 1978–1987 | ||||||||||||
| HC | Bud Grant | 1967–1983, | ||||||||||||
| 1985 | ||||||||||||||
| **Source:** |
References
References
- "1985 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
- "2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide".
- (December 8, 1985). "Frustration for Morrell". Provo (UT) Daily Herald.
- "VIKINGS 25TH SEASON ALL-TIME TEAM 1961–85".
Info: Wikipedia Source
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