The 1985 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 25th in the National Football League. Under returning head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 7–9 record and missed the playoffs for a third season in a row. At the end of the season, Grant retired for good after 18 years with the franchise.

Offseason

1985 draft

Pro Bowler

+ 1985 Minnesota Vikings draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 2 Traded to the Atlanta Falcons from Oilers 3Traded to the Houston Oilers 4 Chris Doleman Defensive end Pittsburgh from Falcons 2 30 Issiac Holt Cornerback Alcorn State Provisional trade not exercised 3 59 Kirk Lowdermilk Center Ohio State 60 Tim Meamber Linebacker Washington from Falcons 66 Tim Long Offensive tackle Memphis State from Chargers 4 85 Buster Rhymes Wide receiver Oklahoma 106 Kyle Morrell Defensive back BYU from Rams 5 115 Mark MacDonald Guard Boston College 6 142 Steve Bono Quarterback UCLA 164 Tim Newton Defensive tackle Florida from Raiders 7 171Traded to the Green Bay Packers 8 198 Nikita Blair Linebacker UTEP 9 227 Jamie Covington Running back Syracuse 10 254 Juan Johnson Wide receiver Langston 11 283 Tim Williams Defensive back North Carolina A&T 12 310 Byron Jones Defensive tackle Tulsa

Notes

Undrafted free agents

+ 1985 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRick HechingerTackleMemphis StateDave LewisRunning backNorthern IowaAl TachovskyLinebackerMinnesota State

Personnel Staff

Roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 10 at Miami Dolphins W 16–13 1–0 Miami Orange Bowl 41,129 2 August 17 Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–34 2–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,887 3 August 24 Seattle Seahawks L 10–27 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,562 4 August 30 at Denver Broncos W 13–9 3–1 Mile High Stadium 69,373

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 8 San Francisco 49ers W 28–21 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,375 2 September 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–16 2–0 Tampa Stadium 46,188 3 September 19 Chicago Bears L 24–33 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,242 4 September 29 at Buffalo Bills W 27–20 3–1 Rich Stadium 45,667 5 October 6 at Los Angeles Rams L 10–13 3–2 Anaheim Stadium 61,139 6 October 13 at Green Bay Packers L 17–20 3–3 Milwaukee County Stadium 54,674 7 October 20 San Diego Chargers W 21–17 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,670 8 October 27 at Chicago Bears L 9–27 4–4Soldier Field 63,815 9 November 3 Detroit Lions W 16–13 5–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,012 10 November 10 Green Bay Packers L 17–27 5–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,970 11 November 17 at Detroit Lions L 21–41 5–6 Silverdome 54,647 12 November 24 New Orleans Saints L 23–30 5–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,117 13 December 1 at Philadelphia Eagles W 28–23 6–7 Veterans Stadium 54,688 14 December 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 26–7 7–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,593 15 December 15 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–14 7–8 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium 14,167 16 December 22 Philadelphia Eagles L 35–37 7–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 49,722

Standings

Statistics

Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Tommy Kramer 3,522 Passing touchdowns Tommy Kramer 19 Rushing yards Darrin Nelson 893 Rushing touchdowns Ted Brown 7 Receiving yards Anthony Carter 821 Receiving touchdowns Anthony Carter 8 Points Jan Stenerud 86 Kickoff return yards Buster Rhymes 1,345 Punt return yards Darrin Nelson 133 Tackles Chris Doleman 113 Sacks Keith Millard 11.0 Interceptions John Turner 5

League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 3,635 227.2 7th Rushing offense 1,516 94.8 27th Total offense 5,151 321.9 16th Passing defense 3,241 202.6 15th Rushing defense 2,223 138.9 22nd Total defense 5,464 341.5 16th

25th anniversary team The team recognized an all-time team in 1985 as part of the celebration of the 25th season. Position Player Tenure Offense QB Fran Tarkenton 1961–1966, 1972–1978 RB Bill Brown 1962–1974 Chuck Foreman 1973–1979 WR Ahmad Rashad 1976–1982 Sammy White 1976–1985 TE Stu Voigt 1970–1980 OT Ron Yary 1968–1981 Grady Alderman 1961–1975 G Ed White 1969–1977 Milt Sunde 1964–1974 C Mick Tingelhoff 1962–1978 Defense DE Jim Marshall 1961–1979 Carl Eller 1964–1978 DT Alan Page 1967–1978 Gary Larsen 1965–1974 OLB Matt Blair 1974–1985 Roy Winston 1962–1976 MLB Jeff Siemon 1972–1982 Scott Studwell 1977–1990 CB Bobby Bryant 1968–1980 Ed Sharockman 1961–1972 S Paul Krause 1968–1979 Karl Kassulke 1963–1972 Special teams K Fred Cox 1963–1977 P Greg Coleman 1978–1987 Coach HC Bud Grant 1967–1983, 1985 Source:

References