1969 Minnesota Vikings season

1969 was the ninth year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 50th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings again won the NFL Central Division title, as finished with a record of 12 wins and two losses, plus playoff wins over the Los Angeles Rams in the Western Conference Championship Game, as well as the Cleveland Browns in the last NFL Championship Game ever played in the pre-merger era, before losing the Super Bowl to the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs in the final professional football game played between any two teams before the two leagues merged.

The Vikings are the last team to win the NFL Championship prior to the league's merger with the American Football League. The season was chronicled for America's Game: The Missing Rings, as one of the five greatest NFL teams to never win the Super Bowl.

Offseason

NFL Draft

^[1]

Regular season

The Vikings, led by head coach Bud Grant, ended the season with an NFL best 12-2 regular season record, leading the older league in total points scored (379) and fewest points allowed (133). They had scored 50 or more points in three different games. They had 12 straight victories, the longest single-season winning streak in 35 years,^[2] and became the first modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL championship. Their defense, considered the most intimidating in the NFL, was anchored by a defensive line nicknamed the "Purple People Eaters", consisting of defensive tackles Gary Larsen and Alan Page, and defensive ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall. The secondary was led by defensive backs Bobby Bryant (8 interceptions, 97 return yards), Earsell Mackbee (6 interceptions, 100 return yards), and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Krause (5 interceptions, 82 return yards, 1 touchdown).

On offense, quarterback Joe Kapp was known for his superb leadership and his running ability, both throwing on the run and running for extra yards. And when Kapp did take off and run, instead of sliding when he was about to be tackled like most quarterbacks, he lowered his shoulder and went right at the tackler. This style of play earned him the nickname "Indestructible". In the NFL Championship Game against Cleveland Browns, he collided with linebacker Jim Houston while running for a first down, and Houston had to be helped off the field after the play ended. Also, Kapp was known for being an extremely unselfish leader: when he was voted the Vikings' Most Valuable Player, he turned the award down and said that every player on the team was equally valuable.

Running back Dave Osborn was the team's top rusher with 643 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 236 yards and another touchdown. In the passing game, Pro Bowl wide receiver Gene Washington averaged 21.1 yards per catch by recording 821 yards and 9 touchdowns of off just 39 receptions. Wide receiver John Henderson caught 34 passes for 553 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Vikings offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowlers Grady Alderman and Mick Tingelhoff.

Schedule

Standings

Roster

Postseason

Playoffs

NFL Championship Game

Minnesota Vikings 27, Cleveland Browns 7

Scoring

• MIN - Kapp 7 run (Cox kick)
• MIN - Washington 75 pass from Kapp (Cox kick)
• MIN - FG Cox 30
• MIN - Osborn 20 run (Cox kick)
• MIN - FG Cox 32
• CLE - Collins 3 pass from Nelsen (Cockroft kick)

Super Bowl IV

Awards and records

• Led NFL, Points Scored (379)

Milestones

References

1. ^ "1969 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2009-07-22. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1969.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-20. 
2. ^ "Super Bowl IV," Super Bowl I-X Collector's Set. NFL Productions, LLC, 2003

• Vikings on Football Reference