After the loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl IV, the Minnesota Vikings did not fade into the woodwork. The team led by Bud Grant, Fran Tarkington and the "Purple People Eaters" played in three more Super Bowls, losing to the Miami Dolphins with Larry Csonka, the Pittsburgh Steelers with Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and "Mean" Joe Green and the Oakland Raiders with Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff and Kenny, "The Snake" Stabler.
It’s hard to remember now, but the Vikings were a fine ballclub and Fran Tarkington was considered one of the premier quarterbacks of all time. He forged many records before he retired including most completions, most touchdowns, etc. during his time with the Vikes and a couple seasons with the Giants.
Bud Grant and assistant coach Jerry Burns initiated the short passing game, later known as the West Coast Offense under San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana. There was one big difference. Joe Montana could throw the long pass well. Fran Tarkington could not.
Tarkington was perhaps more respected during his playing days than he is now. When you lose three Super Bowls in a row and fail to lead your team to victory in the big game, your reputation suffers.
Tarkington retired and the Vikings fell from yearly contention. Although, they were still a team to be reckoned with.
Playboy Tommy Kramer, he of the Bloomington night spots, took over and provided both good and bad moments. He took the Vikings into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and fans were comfortable, although the team lost its cold-weather mystique.
Running back Rickey Young and backup quarterback Wade Wilson visited the hospital I worked at in Sioux Falls and while Wilson was very friendly, Young just went through the motions. I once rode a few miles with Gayle Sayers, the great Chicago Bear running back, and while I didn’t get the negative vibes from Sayers that I did from Young, he too, had very little to say.
Bud Grant retired and ex-marine Les Steckel was named Viking coach. He ran training camp like a Paris Island boot camp and lost the team’s respect early on.
Grant came out of retirement, but the magic was gone. Burns took over and during the strike-shortened season, led the Vikings to a couple of upset victories in the playoffs before eventually losing to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings then made what may have been the worst trade in NFL history, trading key players and their top draft choices for three years to Dallas for Herschel Walker. The Cowboys, with the Viking draft choices that included one Emmitt Smith, went on to win three Super Bowls.
Burns retired and Dennis Green was named coach. Green immediately earned the enmity of the Twins Cities sports writers by announcing he was the new sheriff in town.
Then no matter what kind of success Green had, and he had a lot, winning the Central Division four times and going to the NFC finals twice, he was disparaged and eventually forced to resign. Green didn’t handle the press well and came across arrogant and a know-it-all.
He indicated only he and his staff knew anything about football. Judge Alan Page said that at the time of Green’s resignation, Green was the only head coach to come to inner-city youth meetings and praised him for doing so. It’s too bad he couldn’t have shown that side of himself to the public.
The Vikings came close to the Super Bowl twice during the next couple of decades. Close but no cigar.
We’ll conclude next week by examining the close misses of the Randy Moss and Brett Favre teams.
