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VIKINGS GO ASHORE IN 2006 WITH CHILDRESS AT HELM
On January 7, 2006, the Minnesota Vikings named Brad Childress (see page 2) as their 7th head coach in team history. Childress comes to the Vikings after 7 seasons in Philadelphia, most recently serving as offensive coordinator for the 2004 NFC Champions.
2006 REGULAR SEASON OPPONENTS SET
Home (series record)
Green Bay (45-44-1, 23-21 home)
Chicago (48-40-2, 28-18 home)
Detroit (58-29-2, 31-12-1 home)
St. Louis (22-15-2, last visit ‘05)
Arizona (10-9, last visit ‘00)
New England (4-5, last visit ’97)
New York Jets (1-6, last visit ’94)
Carolina (3-3, last visit ’02)
Away (series record)
Green Bay (45-44-1, 22-23-1 away)
Chicago (48-40-2, 20-22-2 away)
Detroit (58-29-2, 27-17-1 away)
Washington (7-10, last visit ’04)
Buffalo (7-3, last visit ’97)
Seattle (3-6, last visit ’02)
San Francisco (19-21-1, last visit ’97)
Miami (4-5, last visit ’88)
*2005 playoff teams in bold
The NFL schedule will be released in late March/early April. The Vikings will face #4 AFC Seed New England at home in 2006 and 6 of the 16 regular-season games will be against 2005 playoff teams, including both NFC Championship game participants.
PRO BOWL – The Vikings had two players selected to the Pro Bowl. FS Darren Sharper (3rd trip), KR Koren Robinson (1st trip) will play in Hawaii Feb. 12.
ALL-PRO HONORS – Darren Sharper earned 2nd-Team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press and 1st-Team All-NFL from Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America.
VIKINGS NEW STADIUM EFFORTS – For more information on the Vikings’ new stadium efforts and images of the stadium go to vikings.com and view the stadium section on the home page.
TICKET INFORMATION – The Vikings currently have a waiting list for 2006 season tickets. For more information call 612-33-VIKES. Tickets can be purchased at the Vikings’ ticket office at the Metrodome, any Ticketmaster location, or by phone at (651) 989-5151.
BRAD CHILDRESS
HEAD COACH
The future of Minnesota Vikings football started on January 6, 2006 as Brad Childress is named the seventh head coach in franchise history. Childress arrives in Minnesota with an impressive list of achievements in his coaching career and a commitment to building a championship atmosphere. Throughout his coaching career Childress has built winners, taking losing programs at Illinois and Wisconsin and turning them into Big Ten champions and Rose Bowl teams. Before joining Philadelphia in 1999, the 1998 squad went 3-13. In two seasons the Eagles were in the playoffs and in three seasons were winning the first of four straight NFC East titles.
The 2006 season marks Childress’ 29th in coaching and his 9th on an NFL sideline. During his previous 28 seasons at the collegiate and professional ranks Childress has been a part of teams with winning records 17 times and has a combined record of 205-156-8 including playoffs and bowl action. Childress becomes the first Vikings head coach to come to the team directly from another NFL franchise.
Childress joins the Vikings following a seven-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the past four seasons as offensive coordinator. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles represented the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIX, amassed a 70-42 (.625) record in the regular season, won four straight NFC East titles from 2001-04 and advanced to the playoffs from 2000-04. During Childress’ time as offensive coordinator (2002-05), the Eagles were 43-21 in the regular season, the most wins in the NFC over that span. Since joining the Eagles in 1999, Childress’ teams have a 13-1 mark against NFC North teams including playoff wins over Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota.
The Eagles offense under Childress was able to excel while adjusting to personnel transition and injuries. The team ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in total offense twice in the past four seasons and has assembled numerous individual achievements. In the four seasons Childress guided the offense the team amassed 5,000+ yards each season, averaging 333.8 yards per game in that span. The Eagles can attribute much of their recent success to limiting turnovers. The 2003 Eagles led the NFC and set a team record with only 22 turnovers. The 2004 team matched that total and ranked 3rd in the NFC. The 44 turnovers in the two-season span ranked 3rd in the NFL. Despite starting three different players at quarterback, the 2002 Eagles set a team record with 415 points.
The Eagles offense since 2000 has featured seven players who have earned 14 berths in the Pro Bowl, highlighted by signal caller Donovan McNabb who has been honored with five berths in the all-star game. Joining McNabb in Hawaii over the past six seasons were TE Chad Lewis (three times), T Tra Thomas (twice), G Jermane Mayberry (once), T Jon Runyan (once), WR Terrell Owens (once) and RB Brian Westbrook (once).
Childress worked with McNabb since his rookie season in 1999 when he signed on as the Eagles QB coach. McNabb has emerged as one of the top QBs in the NFL during the past seven seasons and established an NFL record in 2004 as the first QB to throw for 30+ touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions. The Eagles offense set franchise records in several areas in the 2004 run to Super Bowl XXXIX, including team passer rating (96.4), completion percentage (61.4%) and gross passing yardage (4,208). In 2000 McNabb was runner-up in the Associated Press MVP voting, he has earned NFC/NFL Offensive Player of the Week honors eight times and has been recognized as NFC Offensive Player of the Month three times. McNabb has etched his name throughout the Philadelphia record book, claiming single-season marks in 2004 in passer rating (104.7), completion percentage (64.0%) and passing yards (3,875).
The Eagles improvement during Childress’ tenure was remarkable as the team went 5-11 in Andy Reid staff’s first season in 1999. A year later the 2000 Eagles won the first playoff game in eight seasons for the franchise. The 2001 team that won the NFC East was the first division title for the Eagles since 1988 and the 2004 team that won 13 regular season games en route to the NFC title set the franchise record for wins.
Before joining Reid’s Eagles staff in January 1999, Childress served as University of Wisconsin offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and running backs coach from 1991-98. During his tenure in Madison the Badgers played in five bowl games, highlighted by Rose Bowl wins over UCLA in 1994 and 1998. The 1993 squad set a school record and ranked 4th in Big Ten history by averaging 455.2 yards per game. Childress guided Badgers RB Ron Dayne through his junior season and helped him become the first collegiate player to rush for over 7,000 career yards and go on to win the Heisman Trophy. While tutoring the UW offense, Childress guided some of the top performers in school history. Ron Dayne (1st-7,125 yards), Brent Moss (4th-3,428 yards) and Terrell Fletcher (5th-3,414) all rank among the career rushing leaders while QB Darrell Bevell left as the top passer in school history (7,686 yards) and Mike Samuel ranks 4th (4,989 yards). Three of the top five receivers in UW annals were under Childress’ instruction as Chris Chambers (3rd-2,004 yards), Tony Simmons (4th-1,991 yards) and Lee DeRamus (5th-1,974 yards) all made their mark on the Big Ten during their careers.
Childress helped the Badgers climb out of the Big Ten cellar where they had dwelled for years prior to his arriving on campus. The 1990 Badger club struggled through a 1-10 season before Childress came aboard in 1991 and helped the team to a 59-32-4 mark over the next eight seasons and a 4-1 mark in bowl games. The 1993 team tied for the Big Ten title at 10-1-1 and went to the Rose Bowl, the first conference championship and Rose Bowl appearance by the school since the 1963. The 1998 squad, Childress’ last with the Badgers, topped UCLA 38-31 in the Rose Bowl. Along with Dayne, Childress oversaw Wisconsin standouts Brent Moss as he won the 1993 Big Ten MVP and conference Offensive Player of the Year. Dayne took home the 1996 Big Ten Rookie of the Year hardware.
Prior to joining the Wisconsin staff, Childress was wide receivers coach at Utah in 1990 and offensive coordinator at Northern Arizona from 1986-89. The coaching staff at NAU included future NFL head coaches Andy Reid, Bill Callahan and Marty Mornhinweg. Reid, Childress and Mornhinweg were later reunited with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Childress’ first taste of NFL coaching came as quarterbacks coach of the 1985 Indianapolis Colts. His coaching career began at Illinois from 1978-84 where he began as a graduate assistant before coaching the Illini running backs and wide receivers.
Childress and wife, Dru-Ann, have four children- Cara, Kyle, Andrew and Christopher. Born 6/27/56 and raised in Aurora, IL, Childress attended Marmion Military High School. Childress briefly played quarterback and wide receiver at Illinois before transferring and graduating from Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
CHILDRESS’ BACKGROUND
COACH:
1978-84 Illinois Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Graduate Assistant
1985 Indianapolis Colts Quarterbacks/Quality Control
1986-89 Northern Arizona Offensive Coordinator
1990 Utah Wide Receivers
1991-98 Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, Running Backs
1999-01 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks
2002-05 Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator
EAGLES PRO BOWLERS UNDER CHILDRESS
QB Donovan McNabb (5 selections)
TE Chad Lewis (3 selections)
T Tra Thomas (2 selections)
G Jermane Mayberry (1 selection)
WR Terrell Owens (1 selection)
T Jon Runyan (1 selection)
RB Brian Westbrook (1 selection)
2002-05 NFC RECORDS
Philadelphia 43-21
Seattle 39-25
NFC EAST CHAMPIONS
2001 Philadelphia (11-5)
2002 Philadelphia (12-4)
2003 Philadelphia (12-4)
2004 Philadelphia (13-3)
INJURIES HIT 2005 VIKINGS HARD – The 2005 battled through the loss of several key starters to injury. The team had 9 players end their seasons on injured reserve and lost a total 440 career games of experience. Included were 3-time Pro Bowl QB Daunte Culpepper (85 career games played), 4-time Pro Bowl C Matt Birk (105 games) and the Vikings most experienced RB Moe Williams (141 games). Other former Vikings starters landing on injured reserve were SS Willie Offord, G Toniu Fonoti and DE Kenechi Udeze. All of the players have undergone surgery and are recovering to compete in 2006.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE IS MAN OF THE YEAR – For the 4th consecutive year, Matt Birk was voted as the Vikings Man of the Year for his involvement in the community and charity endeavors. Through Birk’s HIKE (Hope, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education) Foundation, he has worked to reward deserving students. Birk has served as team spokesman for the Star Tribune/Gridiron Geography program and is a frequent participant in Vikings Victory Visits to local hospitals.
ROBINSON SELECTED FOR PAIR OF HONORS – Koren Robinson was voted the Vikings 2005 Ed Block Courage Award winner by his teammates and was recognized by the Twin Cities chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America as the Korey Stringer Good Guy Award winner for his cooperation with the media.
VIKINGS FACTS AND FIGURES
• Oldest Vikings player Brad Johnson (9/13/68)
• Youngest Vikings player C.J. Mosley (8/6/83)
• Most NFL seasons Brad Johnson 14th season in the NFL
• College with the most Vikings Maryland (4) Dugan, Henderson, Hill, Fowler
• Conference with the most Vikings SEC 11 players on ’05 roster
• State (High School Hometown) Florida 9 players on ’05 roster with the most Vikings
• Largest Viking Bryant McKinnie Stands 6-8 and weighs 335 pounds
• Smallest Viking Paul Edinger Stands 5-8 and weighs 175 pounds
• Vikings w/NFL Europe experience 4 S. Hill, B. Johnson, M. Robinson, J.T. O’Sullivan
• Pro Bowl participants (trips) 9 Michael Bennett (1), Matt Birk (4), Corey Chavous (1), Sam Cowart (1), Daunte Culpepper (3), Brad Johnson (2), Koren Robinson (1), Darren Sharper (3), Kevin Williams (1)
JOHNSON RETURNS – Brad Johnson made his 1st Vikings start since 1998 vs. Detroit (11/6). Johnson threw his 1st career TD pass at the Metrodome vs. Detroit in the opening game of 1996. His 56 touchdown passes as a Viking ranks 6th all-time in the team record books. Including playoffs, Johnson has thrown 162 touchdown passes for 27,201 yards in a career that began back with a Viking as a 9th-round choice in 1992. Johnson holds a 22-10 mark in his 32 career starts for the Vikings and has a 65-43 regular-season record as a starter. Johnson has led all 3 NFL teams he has played for to the playoffs and led Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl XXXVII title over Oakland. Johnson became the 51st player in NFL history to eclipse the 25,000 career passing yards mark at Detroit (12/4) and passed the 150 career TD mark (currently 155). He stands 56th in NFL history with the 155 TDs. Johnson eclipsed 25,000 career yards passing this season and stands 48th in NFL history with 25,798 yards.
NFL TD Passes Since 1996 – Regular
1. Brett Favre ....................... 288 (160 games)
2. Peyton Manning................ 244 (128 games)
3. Drew Bledsoe ................... 191 (144 games)
4T. Mark Brunell ................... 159 (132 games)
4T. Kerry Collins ................... 159 (137 games)
6. Brad Johnson.................. 155 (121 games)
Season Wins by Vikings Starting QBs
1. Fran Tarkenton ..................92
2. Tommy Kramer..................54
3. Daunte Culpepper .............38
4. Wade Wilson .....................27
5. Joe Kapp ...........................23
6. Brad Johnson ..................22
Career TD Passes in Vikings History
1. Fran Tarkenton ............................. 239
2. Tommy Kramer............................. 159
3. Daunte Culpepper......................... 139
4. Wade Wilson ................................ 66
5. Warren Moon................................ 58
6. Brad Johnson.............................. 56
Fastest Vikings QBs to 20 wins
1. Brad Johnson ..................28 games (20-8)
2. Wade Wilson .....................32 games (20-12)
CULPEPPER CRUSHES CHARTS – Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper entered 2005 in his 6th season as the Vikings starter after earning 3 Pro Bowl berths in his opening 5 seasons as the team’s lead signalcaller. Having already etched his name throughout the Vikings record book, Culpepper continues to climb charts at the team and NFL level. Culpepper has established himself as one the most accurate passers in NFL history at a 64.4% completion rate. Since taking over starting duties in 2000, Culpepper has elevated himself to rank among the top QBs in the NFL over those 6 seasons.
NFL TD Passes Since 2000 – Regular Season
1. Peyton Manning................ 192 (96 games, 2.0/gm)
2. Brett Favre ........................ 161 (96 games, 1.67/gm)
3. Daunte Culpepper........... 135 (80 games, 1.68/gm)
NFL All-Time Completion % Leaders
1. Kurt Warner .......................65.7%
2. Marc Bulger .......................65.0%
3. Daunte Culpepper............64.4%
NFL All-Time Passer Rating Leaders (minimum 1,500 att.)
1. Steve Young ..................... 96.8
2. Kurt Warner ...................... 94.1
3. Peyton Manning................ 93.5
4. Joe Montana..................... 92.3
5. Daunte Culpepper........... 91.5
Vikings Career Passer Rating (1,000+ Att.)
1. Daunte Culpepper............91.5
2. Brad Johnson ....................86.2
3. Warren Moon.....................82.9
Vikings Career 100+ Passer Rating Games
1. Fran Tarkenton ..................37 (177 games)
2. Daunte Culpepper............31 (81 games)
Fastest to 20,000 Passing Yards in NFL History
1. Dan Marino ....................... 74 games
2. Peyton Manning................ 78 games
3. Daunte Culpepper........... 80 games
Vikings Career 300-Yard Passing Games
1. Daunte Culpepper............19
2. Tommy Kramer..................19
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL – The Vikings’ offense set a team record by not throwing an interception in 9 games on the 2005 season, surpassing the mark of 8 set in 2004. The Vikings benefited from having a pair of veteran QBs on the roster in 2005 that were proven winners. Daunte Culpepper (3 Pro Bowls) and Brad Johnson (2 Pro Bowls) combined for 7 games with passer ratings of 100+ points, the 5th-highest total in team history. The Vikings ended 2005 with the 3rd-best total in team history with a mere 14 fumbles and had 3 games on the season without a turnover, tied for the 4th-best.
GETTING DEFENSIVE – The Vikings’ late season turnaround and 6-game winning streak was keyed by a flurry of takeaways. The Vikings tied for 1st in the NFC and tied for 2nd in the NFL with 24 interceptions as a team while FS Darren Sharper led the NFC with 9 picks. The Vikings managed only 10 takeaways in the opening 7 games of the season (6 INTs, 4 FRs) and reversed that trend to post 22 takeaways during the 6-game winning streak (17 INTs, 5 FRs). The Vikings’ pressure from the defensive front played a prominent role as well. In the opening 7 games of the season the Vikings were allowing 361.1 yards per game, but turned it around in the past 9 games, allowing 293.8 yards per game.
2005 NFL Team Interceptions Leaders
1. Cincinnati...............31
2T. Minnesota ..........24
2T. Chicago ...............24
4. Carolina .................23
Team Interception Return TDs by Vikings
1. 1992 ...................... 6
2. 1998 ...................... 5
3T. ’64, ’94, ’03 ......... 4
6. 2005 ......................3
D-BACK ATTACK – With a secondary that already boasted highly respected CB Antoine Winfield and former Pro Bowl S Corey Chavous, the Vikings added to their talented defensive backfield by acquiring S Darren Sharper (Green Bay) and CB Fred Smoot (Washington) in free agency during the offseason. The combo of Sharper and Smoot ranks second only to Tory James and Deltha O’Neal of Cincinnati for the most interceptions by a pair of current teammates since 2001. Sharper set a personal high with 3 interceptions vs. the N.Y. Giants (11/13). The 2nd interception of the game he returned 92 yards for a TD. It was the 3rd longest return in club history and 2nd longest of his career. The return was the 9th career TD Sharper has scored (7 INTs, 2 FRs), which ranks 1st in the NFL since he entered the League in 1997. Sharper’s 123 interception return yards vs. the N.Y. Giants set a team record. He also set a team record for interception yards in a season with 276. Each of the Vikings current 4 starting DBs, Sharper, Chavous, Winfield and CB Brian Williams, have earned NFC/NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors during their Vikings career. Sharper continues to climb the NFL record book for single season and career interceptions and interception return yardage. Sharper ranks 7th in NFL history for single-season interception return yardage and ranks 11th in NFL history for career return yards. He currently has 953 return yards and can join elite company as there are only 7 players in league history to amass 1,000+ career return yards. Winfield ranked 3rd on the team with 100 tackles, trailing MLB Sam Cowart’s 104, and WLB E.J. Henderson’s 102. Winfield has 3 seasons in his career over the 100-tackle mark.
Vikings Single-Season Interceptions
1. Paul Krause, 1975.........................10
2. Darren Sharper, 2005 ....................9
3. Brian Russell, 2003 .........................9
4. Orlando Thomas, 1995....................9
NFL Interceptions Since 2000
1. Darren Sharper ...................................40
2T. Patrick Surtain ....................................29
2T. Deltha O’Neal .....................................29
4T. Tory James.........................................28
4T. Tony Parrish .......................................28
Longest Interception Returns in Vikings History
1. Najee Mustafaa vs. LA Rams (12/15/91) ......97t
2. Walker Lee Ashley vs. Chicago (12/19/88) ...94t
3. Darren Shaper @ N.Y. Giants (11/13/05)....92t
4. Issiac Holt vs. Detroit (10/9/89) .....................90t
5. Charlie West @ Chicago (12/19/71)..............89
6. Darren Sharper vs. Tampa Bay (9/11/05)...88t
NFL Defensive TDs since 1997
1. Darren Sharper.......... 9 (7 INT, 2 FR)
2T. Dré Bly...................... 7 (5 INT, 2 FR)
2T. Rod Woodson........... 7 (7 INT)
2T. Aeneas Williams ....... 7 (5 INT, 2 FR)
Vikings Single-Season Interception Return Yards
1. Darren Sharper ................................276 (2005)
2. Jimmy Hitchcock ...............................242 (1998)
3. Charlie West......................................236 (1971)
NFL Interception Return Yards (Season)
1. Ed Reed, Baltimore (’04).....................358
2. Charlie McNeal, San Diego (’61) ........349
3. Deion Sanders, San Francisco (’94)...303
4. Don Doll, Detroit (’49) .........................301
5. Night Train Lane, Los Angeles (’52) ..298
6. Bob Suci, Boston Patriots (’63)...........277
7. Darren Sharper, Minnesota (’05)......276
Career Interceptions by Active Players
1. Deion Sanders (1989-2005) ............................53
2. Terrell Buckley (1992-2005) ............................50
3. Troy Vincent (1992-2005)................................47
4. Ty Law (1995-2005) ........................................46
5. Darren Sharper (1997-2005)..........................45
NFL Career Interception Return TDs
1. Rod Woodson..................................................12
2T. Ken Houston .................................................. 9
2T. Deion Sanders ............................................... 9
2T. Aeneas Williams..............................................9
5. Eric Allen ...........................................................8
6T. Darren Sharper, Ty Law, Otis Smith............7
6T. Herb Adderley, Erich Barnes, Lem Barney .....7
NFL Interception Leaders - 2005
1T. Deltha O’Neal, Cin.................10 (0 TDs)
1T. Ty Law, N.Y. Jets.....................10 (1 TD)
3. Darren Sharper, Minn. .............9 (2 TDs)
4T. Nathan Vasher, Chi. ..................8 (1 TD)
4T. Champ Bailey, Den. ................8 (2 TDs)
TRULY SPECIAL TEAMS – The Vikings entered 2005 with a punter and kicker that had never suited up for the team. Undrafted rookie P Chris Kluwe, obtained off waivers from Seattle following preseason, notched the best punting performance by a rookie in team history and the 2nd-best single day by a Vikings’ P in team history with a 54.3 average (minimum 4 punts) vs. Tampa Bay (9/11). Veteran K Paul Edinger made the move from NFC North rival Chicago to Minnesota as a free agent in the offseason and brought his strong leg into play quickly. Edinger nailed his 1st FG attempt in Purple when he connected on a 53-yarder vs. Tampa Bay (9/11). Against Green Bay (10/23) he set a team record with a 56-yarder to win the game as time expired. It was the 2nd longest game-winning field goal as time expired in NFL history (longest was Tom Dempsey’s 63-yarder in 1970). Edinger kicked a 48-yarder with :10 remaining in the game to defeat the Giants 24-21 (11/13). The following week vs. Green Bay (11/21) he duplicated the feat with his 8th career game-winning FG as time expired (3rd game-winner on the road). The Vikings return game tied a team record at New York when Koren Robinson returned a kickoff for a TD and Mewelde Moore returned a punt for a TD in the same game for the 2nd time in team history, the last coming at Kansas City in 1999. The returns each ranked as the 8th-longest in team history and were the 1st return TDs of each player’s NFL career. Kluwe was honored in the week leading into the Atlanta game as the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month, the 1st rookie in team history to earn a Player of the Month honors and the 1st Viking to earn Special Teams Player of the Month honors since Mitch Berger in 2000. Edinger stepped into the lineup to punt in place of an injured Kluwe on the road at Detroit (12/4), booting a pair of punts for a 37.5 avg. and landing 1 inside the 20.
Vikings Best Single-Game Punting Avg. (min. 4)
1. Mitch Berger vs. Cincinnati (11/15/98)............. 55.8
2. Chris Kluwe vs. Tampa Bay (9/11/05) .......... 54.3
3. Harry Newsome vs. Phoenix (10/13/91) ......... 54.0
4T. Paul Edinger vs. Tampa Bay (9/11/05) ........... 53
Longest FGs in Vikings History
1. Paul Edinger vs. Green Bay (10/23/05) ............ 56
2T. Paul Edinger vs. Chicago (1/1/06) .................. 54
2T. Jan Stenerud vs. Atlanta (9/16/84) .................... 54
Vikings Gross Average by Rookies- Season
1. Bobby Walden, 1964........................................ 46.4
2. Chris Kluwe, 2005 .......................................... 44.1
4T. Jan Stenerud vs. Tampa Bay (11/4/84)............. 53
4T. Fred Cox at Green Bay (12/5/65) ...................... 53
Longest Kickoff Returns in Vikings History
1. Lance Rentzel vs. Baltimore (11/14/65)...........101t
2. Eddie Payton vs. Oakland (9/14/81) ..................99t
3. Clinton Jones vs. NY Giants (11/5/67)...............96t
4. Herschel Walker @ Philadelphia (11/19/89) .... 93t
5. Dave Osborn @ LA Rams (10/3/65) ...................92
6t. Buster Rhymes vs. Philadelphia (12/22/85) ..... 88
6t. David Palmer @ Baltimore (12/13/98) ..............88t
8. Koren Robinson @ NY Giants (11/13/05) .... 86t
Longest Punt Returns in Vikings History
1. Charlie West vs. Washington (11/3/68) .............. 98t
2. Nate Burleson @ Indianapolis (11/8/04)............. 91t
3T. Hugh McElhenny @ Chicago (12/17/61) .......... 81t
3T. Bob Grim vs. NY Giants (11/5/67) ..................... 81
5. Leo Lewis vs. Atlanta (11/22/87) ....................... 78t
6. Ed Sharockman vs. LA Rams (10/16/66) ............ 76
7. David Palmer @ Detroit (11/23/95)..................... 74t
8. Mewelde Moore @ NY Giants (11/13/05)......... 71t
GETTIN’ WIGGY WITH IT – Jermaine Wiggins led the team in receptions in 2004 with 71 catches and led the team in 2005 with 69 catches. Wiggins’ 69 catches was 2nd in the NFC among TEs and ranked 5th in the NFL among TEs. At Chicago (10/16) he set his regular-season career high with 10 catches and tied for the 2nd-most receptions by a Vikings TE in team history. Wiggins is only the 2nd Vikings TE to lead the team in catches for consecutive seasons since Steve Jordan in 1985-86.
Receptions by Vikings TEs
1. Joe Senser, vs. Green Bay (11/29/81).........11
2t. Jermaine Wiggins, @ Chi. (10/16/05).......10
2t. Jim Kleinsasser, @ St. L. (11/30/03) ..........10
2t. Joe Senser, vs. NY Jets (12/26/82) ............10
Catches by NFL TEs- 2004-05
1. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City ................180
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego....................170
3. Jason Witten, Dallas.............................153
4. Jermaine Wiggins, Minnesota ..........140
Most Catches by Vikings in First 2 Seasons
1. Rickey Young, 1978-79................................160
2. Randy Moss, 1998-99..................................149
3. Jermaine Wiggins, 2004-05.......................140
STACKS OF SACKS – Lance Johnstone continues to amass sacks at a pace that keeps him listed among the elite pass rushers in the NFL. His 7.5 sacks led the team and he ranks 6th in the NFL with 65.5 sacks since 1998. Johnstone stands 10th in Vikings history with 41.0. Johnstone has 70.0 sacks in his 10 NFL seasons. He trails Mark Mullaney for 9th place in team history with 41.5 sacks. Rookie DT C.J. Mosley stepped in for an injured Kevin Williams vs. Cleveland (11/27) and notched 2.0 sacks in the game, which tied for the 3rd-most by a rookie, a feat matched by Erasmus James vs. Pittsburgh (12/18). James ranked tied for 5th among all 2005 NFL rookies in sacks and ranked 2nd among rookie linemen.
NFL Sacks Since 1998
1. Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay ............................101.5
2. Michael Strahan, NY Giants...........................97.5
3. Jason Taylor, Miami.......................................87.5
4. Kevin Carter, Miami .......................................69.0
5. Lance Johnstone, Minnesota .....................65.5
6. La’Roi Glover, Dallas .....................................65.0
Sacks by Vikings Rookies-Game
1. Kevin Williams, @ Arizona (12/28/03)...............3.0
2. Gerald Robinson, vs. Chicago (10/19/86) .........2.5
3T. C.J. Mosley, vs. Cleveland (11/27/05) ..........2.0
3T. Erasmus James, vs. Pittsburgh (12/18/05)..2.0
3T. Kevin Williams, vs. San Fran. (9/28/03) ..........2.0
3T. Keith Millard, vs. Tampa Bay (12/8/85) ...........2.0
3T. Keith Millard, @ Buffalo (9/29/85) ...................2.0
3T. Alan Page, @ Atlanta (10/29/67).....................2.0
2005 Sacks by NFL Rookies
1. Shawne Merriman, San Diego (LB)........10.0
2. Demarcus Ware, Dallas (LB)....................8.0
3. LeRoy Hill, Seattle (LB) ............................7.5
4. Trent Cole, Philadelphia (DE)...................5.0
5T. Erasmus James, Minnesota (DE)........4.0
5T. Lofa Tutupu, Seattle (LB) .......................4.0
Sacks by Vikings Rookies
1. Keith Millard, 1985...................................11.0
2. Kevin Williams, 2003 ...............................10.5
3. Alan Page, 1967 ........................................8.5
4. Carl Eller, 1964..........................................7.5
5T. Udeze-’04, Rudd-’97, Martin-’80 ......... 5.0
8. Erasmus James, 2003 .............................4.0
ROBINSON RISING – The Vikings acquired free agent WR Koren Robinson on 9/7/05 and he steadily worked his way into a valuable role with the team. The former 1st-round draft choice of Seattle (9th overall in 2001 earned the respect of his teammates as he was voted the recipient of the 2005 Ed Block Courage Award and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Robinson returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD at NY Giants (11/13) to help key the upset win. He ranked 1st in the NFC and 5th in the NFL in kickoff returns (26.0 avg.) despite not having returned a kickoff or punt in his NFL career before coming to the Vikings. The last Vikings player to lead the NFC in kickoff returns was Darrin Nelson in 1983 with a 24.7 average.
Offensively, Robinson had his 1st 100-yard receiving game as a Viking and the 1st by a Viking in 2005 vs. Detroit (12/5) with 148 yards on 4 receptions, including an 80-yarder for a TD on the first offensive play of the game. The 80-yard score was the 2nd-longest catch or Robinson’s career and his longest TD catch. The play ranked tied for the 7th-longest in team history. Robinson became the 4th Vikings receiver in team history to score on a rushing touchdown with a 13-yarder vs. St. Louis (12/11). Robinson joins elite company in Vikings history as only the 3rd player to score a TD on a kickoff return, a rush and a pass, joining Bill Brown (1963) and Herschel Walker (1989).
2005 NFC Kickoff Return Leaders
1. Koren Robinson, Minnnesota ......26.0 avg.
2. Ladell Betts, Washington..................25.9 avg.
3. Willie Ponder, NY Giants..................25.9 avg.
Longest Pass Plays in Vikings History
89t C. Ferguson from F. Tarkenton, @ Chi., 11/11/62
85t Q. Ismail from W. Moon, vs. Detroit, 9/10/95
85t G. Washington from J. Kapp, vs. St. L., 10/8/67
83t G. Washington from J. Kapp, vs. Balt., 9/28/69
82t J. Reed from B. Johnson, @ Oakland, 11/17/96
82t. R. Moss from D. Culpepper, @ Det., 12/19/04
80t K. Robinson from B. Johnson, @ Det., 12/4/05
80t M. Bennett from T. Bouman, @ Pitt., 12/2/01
80t M. Hatchette from J. George, vs. S.F., 10/24/99
80t J. Gilliam from F. Tarkenton, vs. Hou., 10/13/74
Vikings Single-Season Kickoff Return Yardage
1. Buster Rhymes, 1985............ 1,345 (25.4 avg.)
2. Koren Robinson, 2005 ........ 1,221 (26.0 avg.)
3. Eddie Payton, 1980 ............... 1,184 (22.3 avg.)
4. David Palmer, 1998............... 1,176 (23.5 avg.)
5. Jimmy Edwards, 1979 ........... 1,103 (25.1 avg.)
Vikings Single-Season Kickoff Return Averages
1. John Gilliam, 1972................. 26.3 (14 for 369)
2. Lance Rentzel, 1965 ............. 26.2 (23 for 602)
3. Charlie West, 1968................ 26.1 (22 for 576)
4. Koren Robinson, 2005 ........ 26.0 (47 for 1,221)
MOORE AND MORE YARDS EACH WEEK – Mewelde Moore rattled off his 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season with a season-high 122 yards on 22 carries at Green Bay (11/21). The performance gives Moore 4 career games over 100 yards and the Vikings are 4-0 in the games. He is tied with Herschel Walker for 10th in team history with 4 career 100-yard games. Moore ranked 2nd in the NFC with an 11.7 average on punt returns along with a 71-yard TD. Moore is only the 2nd Viking to return a punt for a TD and score both rushing and receiving TDs in a season, joining Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny (1961).
2005 NFC Punt Return Leaders
1. Reno Mahe, Philadelphia ..............12.8 avg.
2. Mewelde Moore, Minnesota ...... 11.7 avg.
3. Steve Smith, Carolina....................10.6 avg.
Vikings 100-Yd. Games in First 2 Seasons
1. Michael Bennett, 2001-02............. 7
2. Mewelde Moore, 2004-05............ 4
3. Chuck Foreman, 1973-74............. 3
MINNESOTA VIKINGS CAREER RUSHING LEADERS – The Vikings featured a ground game that includes 3 of the top 18 all-time leading rushers in team history. The Vikings have used a balanced attack the past three seasons on their way to top five rankings in NFL total offense each season. The Vikings ranked #4 in total offense in 2004, #1 in 2003, and #2 in 2002.
Yards Attempts
1. Robert Smith ....... 6,818...........1,411
2. Chuck Foreman... 5,879...........1,529
3. Bill Brown ............ 5,757...........1,627
4. Ted Brown ........... 4,546...........1,117
5. Dave Osborn ....... 4,320...........1,172
6. Darrin Nelson ...... 4,231..............981
7. Tommy Mason..... 3,252..............761
8. Michael Bennett. 3,174..............713
9. Terry Allen ........... 2,795..............641
10. Fran Tarkenton.. 2,548..............464
11. Daunte Culpepper ...2,476 ...............454
12. Alfred Anderson.........2,374 ...............626
13. Herschel Walker ........2,264 ...............551
14. Clinton Jones.............2,008 ...............546
15. Oscar Reed ...............1,968 ...............490
16. Rickey Young ............1,744 ...............554
17. Leroy Hoard...............1,689 ...............438
18. Moe Williams............1,535 ...............370
19. Rick Fenney ..............1,508 ...............358
20. Scottie Graham .........1,239 ...............349
BENNETT BYPASSES BROWN – Michael Bennett notched his 9th career 100-yard game vs. Detroit (11/6) and moved farther up in team history in doing so. Bennett passed Bill Brown to rank 3rd in team history with his 9 games over the century mark. Vikings career rushing leader Robert Smith sits atop the list with 29 career 100-yard games and Chuck Foreman ranks 2nd with 17. Bennett’s 61-yard run in the regular-season finale vs. Chicago moved him to 2nd in Vikings history for most career runs of 60+ yards with 4, trailing Smith’s 7. Bennett became only the 8th player in Vikings history to amass 3,000+ yards rushing and 1,000+ yards receiving with 70 yards on the ground vs. St. Louis (12/11). Bennett broke the 1,000-yard receiving mark at Detroit (12/4).
BIG TICKET TIME – Vikings DT Kevin Williams’ nose for the ball allowed him to set a team record for passes defensed by linemen in 2004 with 10 and finished 2005 with the 2nd-highest mark with 8. Williams bounced back from a knee injury that cost him 2 games late in the season to play the final 3 games of 2005. He posted 3.0 sacks in those games and continued his trend of strong late-season play. He has 12.5 career sacks and 2 INTs in his 12 regular-season games in December/January.
Vikings Sacks in First 3 Seasons
Alan Page, 1967-69................... 28.5
Kevin Williams, 2003-05.......... 26.0
VIKINGS 2005 ACHIEVEMENTS
• The Vikings have recorded a franchise-record 84 consecutive sellouts, a streak that is alive heading into the 2006 season. The Vikings have sold out every pre-season, regular-season and playoff game since the 1998 pre-season home opener vs. Kansas City.
• The Vikings extended their consecutive games scoring streak which is alive at 236 games, a team record.
• The Vikings ended the 2005 season with 3 players ranked among the top 18 career rushers in Vikings history (Michael Bennett- 8th, Daunte Culpepper- 11th, Moe Williams- 18th).
• The Vikings had 4 of the 7 draftees in 2005 start a game during the season- WR Troy Williamson, DE Erasmus James, OL Marcus Johnson and DT C.J. Mosley. The other 3 draftees were DB Dustin Fox (injured reserve), RB Ciatrick Fason (played in 13 games) and CB Adrian Ward (did not make team).
• The Vikings set a team record by having 9 games without an interception, breaking record of 8 in 2004.
• The Vikings set a team record for the fastest score to start a game at 13 seconds vs. New Orleans (9/25) when Antoine Winfield recovered a Saints fumble on the opening kickoff and Daunte Culpepper hit Travis Taylor for a 24-yard TD on the 1st play from scrimmage.
• The Vikings set a franchise and NFL record by becoming the 1st team ever to score a TD by kickoff return, punt return and interception return in a game @ NY Giants (11/13).
• The Vikings set a team record with 9 receivers each catching 20+ passes in a season.
• The Vikings set a team record for most 80+ yard plays in a season with 4 (Koren Robinson-2, Darren Sharper-2), breaking the old mark of 2 achieved in 4 different seasons.
• The Vikings tied for 2nd in the NFL in 2005 with 24 interceptions, behind Cincinnati (31) and tied Chicago.
• The Vikings had a pair of players earn Pro Bowl berths- FS Darren Sharper and KR Koren Robinson. Sharper became the 1st Vikings defensive player during the free agency era to earn Pro Bowl honors the same season he was acquired by the team. Robinson became the 3rd offensive player to achieve the feat.
• Brad Johnson led the NFL with an interception percentage of 1.4% with 4 interceptions in 294 attempts, also establishing a new Vikings record. Johnson also led the NFL in interception percentage in 2002 at 1.3%.
• Brad Johnson set a Vikings record with a 2.7% career interception percentage, past Warren Moon’s (2.9%).
• Brad Johnson extended his NFL-record streak to 10 consecutive seasons over a 60.0% completion rate.
• Brad Johnson became the 51st player in NFL history to break the 25,000-yard career passing mark.
• Brad Johnson now ranks 48th in NFL history with 25,798 career passing yards.
• Brad Johnson now ranks tied with Danny White for 56th in NFL history with 155 career TD passes.
• Brad Johnson set a Vikings record for fewest games needed to reach 20 wins by a starting QB at 28.
• Brad Johnson tied a Vikings record with his 2nd career 80+ yard pass, matching marks by Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp.
• Daunte Culpepper tied the Vikings career record with his 19th career game of 300+ passing yards.
• Daunte Culpepper set a Vikings record with the most TD passes in a player’s opening 7 seasons with 135.
• Daunte Culpepper hit the 20,000 career passing yard mark in 80 games, the 3rd fastest in NFL history, trailing Hall of Famer Dan Marino (74) and Peyton Manning (78). Culpepper achieved the mark vs. Green Bay (10/23).
• Daunte Culpepper engineered his 10th career 4th-quarter comeback win vs. Green Bay (10/23), ranking 3rd in team history behind Fran Tarkenton’s 18 and Tommy Kramer’s 14.
• Daunte Culpepper was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Green Bay (10/23), the 8th time in his career he has been honored, setting a Vikings record.
• Darren Sharper was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL 1st Team and the Associated Press 2nd-Team All-Pro squads.
• Darren Sharper was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance @ NY Giants (11/13) and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November. He earned both awards for the 1st time in his 9-year career.
• Darren Sharper led the NFL and set a team record with 276 interception return yards, which ranks 7th alltime in NFL history.
• Darren Sharper set a team record with 123 interception return yards @ NY Giants (11/13).
• Darren Sharper set a team record with 2 interception returns of 80+ yards, 88t vs. Tampa Bay (9/11) and 92t @ NY Giants (11/13).
• Darren Sharper tied a team record with 3 interceptions in a game @ NY Giants (11/13).
• Darren Sharper tied for the NFL-high in 2005 with 3 interceptions in a game @ NY Giants (11/13).
• Darren Sharper posted interception returns of 92 yards and 88 yards, both for TDs, which rank as the 3rd and 6th-longest in Vikings history.
• Darren Sharper moved into a tie for 51st in NFL history with 45 career interceptions. Former Viking and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Krause holds the NFL record with 81 picks.
• Darren Sharper moved into 11th in NFL history with 953 yards on interception returns. Only 7 players in NFL history have passed the 1,000-yard mark in return yardage.
• Koren Robinson was named the 2005 Vikings Ed Block Courage Award winner on a vote by his teammates.
• Koren Robinson was named the 2005 winner of the Korey Stringer Good Guy award on a vote by Twin Cities media for his cooperation with the press. The award is presented by the Twin Cities chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
• Koren Robinson became only the 3rd player in Vikings history to score TDs by kickoff return, pass and rush in a season.
• Koren Robinson led the NFC in kickoff return average at 26.0, the 1st Vikings player to lead the NFC since Darrin Nelson in 1983.
• Koren Robinson ranks 2nd in Vikings history with 1,221 kickoff return yards in a season and 4th in franchise history in returns with 47 and return average at 26.0.
• Koren Robinson set a Vikings record for the fewest games needed to reach 1,000 yards on kickoff returns with 11, breaking the former record of 13 held by Buster Rhymes.
• Koren Robinson joined only Washington Redskin Ladell Betts as the only players in the NFL in 2005 to return a kickoff for a TD and score TDs rushing and receiving.
• Koren Robinson hauled in the longest pass of the season for the Vikings on an 80-yard TD from Brad Johnson @ Detroit (12/4).
• Paul Edinger set a Vikings record with the longest FG in team history, a 56-yarder vs. Green Bay (10/23) as time expired.
• Paul Edinger’s 56-yard game winner as time expired vs. Green Bay (10/23) ranks as the 2nd-longest gamewinner as time expires in NFL history behind Tom Dempsey’s NFL-record 63-yarder.
• Paul Edinger tied a Vikings record with 3 FGs of 50+ yards, matching the record held by Jan Stenerud (1984) and Fuad Reveiz (1992).
• Paul Edinger extended his reputation as a long-range sharpshooter by hitting his 16th FG of 50+ yards since coming into the NFL in 2000, the most in the NFL over that span.
• Mewelde Moore became the 8th Vikings player to return a punt for a TD @ NY Giants (11/13).
• Mewelde Moore’s 71-yard punt return TD ranks as the 8th-longest in Vikings history.
• Mewelde Moore became only the 2nd Vikings player to score a TD in a season by punt return, rushing and receiving, matching the mark set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny in 1961.
• Mewelde Moore ranked 2nd in the NFC and tied for 3rd in the NFL in punt return average at 11.7 yards. Moore’s 3rd-place NFL rank was the highest by a Viking since David Palmer was 3rd in 1997.
• Jermaine Wiggins led the Vikings in catches for the 2nd consecutive season, becoming only the 2nd Vikings TE to lead the team in catches in consecutive seasons, joining Steve Jordan in 1985-86.
• Chris Kluwe set a team record with the longest punt on a 1st attempt with a 62-yarder vs. Tampa Bay (9/11).
• Chris Kluwe had the 2nd-best single-game punting average in Vikings history at 54.3 vs. Tampa Bay (9/11).
• Chris Kluwe set a Vikings rookie record with his 54.3 average vs. Tampa Bay (9/11).
• Chris Kluwe ranked 2nd in Vikings history for season average by a rookie at 44.1 yards per punt.
• Chris Kluwe ranked 3rd in Vikings rookie history for punts with 71 and punts inside the 20 with 17.
• Chris Kluwe became the 1st Vikings rookie to earn NFC Player of the Month when he earned the special teams honor for September.
• Marcus Johnson was the 1st Vikings rookie G ever to start a season opener vs. Tampa Bay (9/11).
• Marcus Robinson became only the 3rd Viking to score 3 TDs in a game on 3 catches vs. Cleveland (11/27), matching a mark set by Randy Moss in 1998 and Charley Ferguson in 1962.
• Erasmus James and C.J. Mosley set a team record by becoming the 1st rookie teammates to each post 2.0+ sacks in a game during a season. Mosley achieved the mark vs. Cleveland (11/27) and James vs. Pittsburgh (12/18).
• Michael Bennett moved into 2nd place in Vikings history with 4 rushes of 60+ yards in his career, trailing the Vikings record of 7 held by Robert Smith.
• Matt Birk was named the 2005 Vikings Man of the Year for his community involvement and charity work. Birk was honored with the award for the 4th consecutive season.