The 1984 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 24th in the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a 3–13 record, their worst record since the AFL–NFL merger, later equaled by the 2011 team, and the team's second worst overall record by win percentage (only 1962 was worse).
The Vikings' 484 points allowed (30.3 average points per game) was the most by any NFL team between 1983 and 2000,Most Points Allowed: 1983 to 2000 and the most any Vikings team allowed in one season. At the time, it was the third-most allowed in a 16-game season, trailing only the 1981 Baltimore Colts (533, since surpassed by the 2024 Carolina Panthers with 534) and 1980 New Orleans Saints (487).
The team was coached by Les Steckel after Bud Grant retired; after the bad season, Steckel was fired and Bud Grant was re-hired.
Offseason
1984 draft
Pro Bowler
1984 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection113Keith MillardDefensive tackleWashington State240Traded to the Houston Oilers367Alfred AndersonRunning backBaylor4100Traded to the Houston Oilers5127Traded to the Los Angeles Raiders140Allen RiceRunning backBaylorfrom Raiders6154Dwight CollinsWide receiverPittsburgh7181John HainesDefensive tackleTexas196Lloyd LewisGuardTexas A&Ifrom Raiders8208Paul SverchekDefensive tackleCal Poly9235Keith KiddWide receiverArkansas10268James SpencerLinebackerOklahoma State11295Edgar PickettLinebackerClemson308Lawrence ThompsonWide receiverMiami (FL)from Raiders12321Mike JonesRunning backNorth Carolina A&TOriginally Packers pick
Notes
1984 supplemental draft
1984 Minnesota Vikings Supplemental USFL/CFL Draft Draft order Player name Position College Pro team Round Selection113Allanda SmithCornerbackTCULos Angeles Express240Robert SmithDefensive endGrambling StateArizona Wranglers367David HowardLinebackerLong Beach StateLos Angeles Express
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 4 Atlanta Falcons W 37–6 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,693 2 August 11 Miami Dolphins L 7–29 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,003 3 August 18 Philadelphia Eagles L 10–31 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,743 4 August 24 at St. Louis Cardinals L 0–31 1–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 31,210
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 2 San Diego Chargers L 13–42 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,276 2 September 9 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–19 0–2 Veterans Stadium 55,942 3 September 16 Atlanta Falcons W 27–20 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 53,955 4 September 23 at Detroit Lions W 29–28 2–2 Silverdome 57,511 5 September 30 Seattle Seahawks L 12–20 2–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,171 6 October 7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 31–35 2–4 Tampa Stadium 47,405 7 October 14 at Los Angeles Raiders L 20–23 2–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 49,276 8 October 21 Detroit Lions L 14–16 2–6Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,953 9 October 28 at Chicago Bears L 7–16 2–7 Soldier Field 57,517 10 November 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–24 3–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,949 11 November 11 at Green Bay Packers L 17–45 3–8 Milwaukee County Stadium 52,931 12 November 18 at Denver Broncos L 21–42 3–9 Mile High Stadium 74,716 13 November 25 Chicago Bears L 3–34 3–10 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,881 14 November 29 Washington Redskins L 17–31 3–11 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,017 15 December 8 at San Francisco 49ers L 7–51 3–12 Candlestick Park 56,670 16 December 16 Green Bay Packers L 14–38 3–13 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,197
Game summaries
Week 3: vs Atlanta Falcons
Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers
Standings
Staff
Roster
Statistics
Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Tommy Kramer 1,678 Passing touchdowns Tommy Kramer 9 Rushing yards Alfred Anderson 773 Rushing touchdowns Ted Brown Darrin Nelson 3 Receiving yards Leo Lewis 830 Receiving touchdowns Leo Lewis 4 Points Jan Stenerud 90 Kickoff return yards Darrin Nelson 891 Punt return yards Darrin Nelson 180 Tackles Carl Lee 100 Sacks Randy Holloway 5 Interceptions Rufus Bess 3
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 2,872 179.5 22nd Rushing offense 1,844 115.2 18th Total offense 4,716 294.8 25th Passing defense 3,779 236.2 26th Rushing defense 2,573 160.8 27th Total defense 6,352 397.0 28th
References