The 1966 season was the Minnesota Vikings' sixth in the National Football League. Sixth-year head coach Norm Van Brocklin resigned at the end of the season, after the team finished with a 4–9–1 record.
Offseason 1966 draft
1966 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection16Jerry ShayOffensive tacklePurdue227Jim LindseyRunning backArkansas342Don HansenLinebackerIllinois457Ron AcksSafetyIllinois572Doug DavisOffensive tackleKentucky76Bob HallDefensive backBrownfrom Bears683Wilbur AylorOffensive tackleSouthwest Texas Statefrom Steelers, via Giants87Traded to the Detroit Lions7106Bob MeersEndUMass8120Traded to the Baltimore Colts9134Ron GreenWide receiverNorth Dakota10148Traded to the Detroit Lions11162Stan QuintanaDefensive backNew Mexico12181Bob PetrellaDefensive backTennessee13195Larry MartinOffensive tackleSan Diego State14209Howard TwilleyWide receiverTulsa15223Hugh WrightRunning backAdams State16237Jim WilliamsDefensive endArkansas17256Monroe BeardRunning backVirginia Union18270Dale GrecoDefensive tackleIllinois19284Jesse StokesRunning backCorpus Christi20298Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles
Notes
Undrafted free agents
+ 1966 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeChuck ArrobioTackleUSCJoe ChapmanWide receiverIdahoJim FerrozzoDefensive tackleMinnesotaVern JohnsonCenterWileyJohn McSwaneyGuardParsonsBob MirandaFullbackSanta ClaraSheldon MoomawDefensive endTulsaSam ShiversLinebackerAlcorn A&MJim VelloneGuardUSCDonnie WallaceCornerbackAlcorn A&M
Roster
Preseason Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 6 Detroit Lions T 6–6 0–0–1 Tulane Stadium 38,229 2 August 13 Pittsburgh Steelers W 35–6 1–0–1 Multnomah Stadium 21,228 3 August 20 Los Angeles Rams W 24–10 2–0–1 Metropolitan Stadium 40,270 4 August 26 Washington Redskins W 30–27 3–0–1 Cleveland Stadium 83,418 5 September 2 at Dallas Cowboys L 24–28 3–1–1 Cotton Bowl 58,316
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 11 at San Francisco 49ers T 20–20 0–0–1 Kezar Stadium 29,312 2 September 18 Baltimore Colts L 23–38 0–1–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 3 September 25 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–28 0–2–1 Cotton Bowl 64,116 4 October 2 Chicago Bears L 10–13 0–3–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 5 Bye 6 October 16 Los Angeles Rams W 35–7 1–3–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 7 October 23 at Baltimore Colts L 17–20 1–4–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 8 October 30 San Francisco 49ers W 28–3 2–4–1 Metropolitan Stadium 45,077 9 November 6 at Green Bay Packers W 20–17 3–4–1 Lambeau Field 50,861 10 November 13 Detroit Lions L 31–32 3–5–1 Metropolitan Stadium 43,939 11 November 20 at Los Angeles Rams L 6–21 3–6–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 38,775 12 November 27 Green Bay Packers L 16–28 3–7–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 13 December 4 Atlanta Falcons L 13–20 3–8–1 Metropolitan Stadium 37,117 14 December 11 at Detroit Lions W 28–16 4–8–1 Tiger Stadium 43,022 15 December 18 at Chicago Bears L 28–41 4–9–1 Wrigley Field 45,191 A bye week was necessary as the league had expanded to an odd number (15) of teams (Atlanta); one team was idle each week.
Standings
Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Fran Tarkenton 2,561 Passing touchdowns Fran Tarkenton 17 Rushing yards Bill Brown 829 Rushing touchdowns Bill Brown 6 Receiving yards Paul Flatley 777 Receiving touchdowns Preston Carpenter 4 Points Fred Cox 88 Kickoff return yards Mike Fitzgerald 301 Punt return yards Ed Sharockman 95 Interceptions Dale Hackbart 5SacksJim Marshall7 Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 2,548 182.0 7th Rushing offense 2,091 149.4 3rd Total offense 4,639 331.4 4th Passing defense 2,236 159.7 2nd Rushing defense 1,686 120.4 7th Total defense 3,922 280.1 5th
References