The 2009 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 49th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Brad Childress. The Vikings improved upon their 10–6 record and defended their NFC North title from 2008, their first successful defense of a divisional title since they won six NFC Central titles in a row between 1973 and 1978. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, but lost the NFC Championship Game 31–28 in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, missing out on what would have been their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XI in 1976. This year's NFC Championship Game is also dubbed by Roger Goodell as the "Bountygate Game" which resulted in several players and coaching staff (including head coach Sean Payton) receiving 12-month suspensions three years later. The Vikings had 10 Pro Bowlers and four All-Pros on their roster, both league-highs for the season.
As of 2026, this is the most recent time the Vikings have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Offseason Player and personnel moves Quarterback Brett Favre announced that he would not sign with the Minnesota Vikings on July 28, 2009, after much speculation that he would. Less than a month later, however, Favre signed a 2-year contract worth $25 million with the Vikings.
Releases and injuries On February 18, the team released running back Maurice Hicks.
On February 27, the team released quarterback Gus Frerotte.
On March 3, the team released linebacker Vinny Ciurciu.
On March 4, free agent center Matt Birk left the Vikings to join the Baltimore Ravens.
On March 18, free agent safety Darren Sharper left the Vikings to join the New Orleans Saints.
Signings and extensions
On February 24, the team re-signed cornerback Charles Gordon to a 1-year $1 million contract.
On February 26, the team re-signed defensive end Jayme Mitchell to a 2-year deal.
On February 27, the Vikings traded a 2009 4th round pick to the Houston Texans for quarterback Sage Rosenfels. They then signed Rosenfels to a 2-year $9 million contract extension that will run through 2011.
On February 27, the team re-signed tight end Jim Kleinsasser to a 3-year $9 million contract.
On March 6, the team re-signed linebacker Heath Farwell to a 3-year $7.75 million contract.
On March 9, the team re-signed cornerback Benny Sapp to a 1-year contract.
On March 11, the team re-signed defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy to a 1-year contract.
On March 19, the Vikings signed cornerback Karl Paymah and wide receiver Glenn Holt.
On March 21, cornerback Cedric Griffin signed a 3-year contract extension.
On March 27, the team matched the Bengals' offer sheet for RFA fullback Naufahu Tahi.
On March 31, the team re-signed defensive end Otis Grigsby to a 1-year deal.
On April 6, the team re-signed defensive tackle Fred Evans to a 1-year deal.
On July 24, Antoine Winfield and the Vikings agreed on a 5-year extension through the 2013 season.
On August 18, after months of negotiations, the team signed formerly retired quarterback Brett Favre.
2009 draft
The Vikings had five selections in the 2009 NFL draft; they had traded their fourth-round selection to the Houston Texans for quarterback Sage Rosenfels and, back in 2007, they had traded their sixth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Kelly Holcomb. In 2008, they received an extra 2009 seventh-round selection from the Washington Redskins for defensive end Erasmus James, but they used that extra pick to move from spot #158 to #150 in the fifth round.
The Vikings' top two selections, WR Percy Harvin and OT Phil Loadholt, both soon became 1st string players, while Jasper Brinkley finished the season as the team's starting MLB after E.J. Henderson suffered a broken leg in a Week 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Harvin was also voted the Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named as the NFC's starting kick returner for the 2010 Pro Bowl on January 31, 2010.
Pro Bowler
2009 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Contract Notes Round Selection 1 22 Percy Harvin WR Florida 5 years 2 54 Phil Loadholt OT Oklahoma 4 years 3 86 Asher Allen CB Georgia 4 years 4 122 Traded to the Houston Texans 5 150 Jasper Brinkley LB South Carolina 4 years From Redskins 158 Traded to the Washington Redskins 6 195 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 7 221 Traded to the Washington Redskins From Redskins 231 Jamarca Sanford S Ole Miss 4 years Notes:
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Colt Anderson Safety Montana Kahlil Bell Running back UCLA Jon Cooper Center Oklahoma Robert Francois Linebacker Boston College Juan Garcia Center Washington Sean Glennon Quarterback Virginia Tech De’von Hall Safety Utah State Antoine Holmes Defensive tackle NC State lan Johnson Running back Boise State Tremaine Johnson Defensive tackle LSU Andy Kemp Guard Wisconsin Bobby Lepori Offensive tackle Fresno State Nick Moore Wide receiver Toledo Vinny Perretta Wide receiver Boise State Nick Urban Guard Winona State Nick Walker Tight end Alabama Bobby Williams Wide receiver North Alabama
Staff
Roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue NFL.comrecap 1 August 14 at Indianapolis Colts W 13–3 1–0 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 2 August 21 Kansas City Chiefs W 17–13 2–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 3 August 31 at Houston Texans W 17–10 3–0 Reliant Stadium Recap 4 September 4 Dallas Cowboys L 31–35 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Brett Favre made his Minnesota Vikings debut, going 1–4 for just four yards and no first downs converted in his two series under center; he nonetheless got a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at the Metrodome. Tarvaris Jackson completed two touchdowns, a 13-yard score to Visanthe Shiancoe and a 64-yarder to Darius Reynaud.
Week 3: at Houston Texans
Brett Favre completed 13 of 18 passes for 142 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Chester Taylor. Favre even got physical, laying a block (albeit an illegal one) on Texans safety Eugene Wilson.
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Regular season As well as playing their NFC North rivals both at home and on the road, the Vikings were scheduled to face opponents from the AFC North and the NFC West. They were also handed fixtures against the Carolina Panthers from the NFC South and the New York Giants from the NFC East by virtue of having won their division in 2008. Based on their opponents' results in 2008, the Vikings had the second-easiest schedule in the league in 2009, with their opponents having an overall record of 107–148–1 (.420) in 2008.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue NFL.comrecap 1 September 13 at Cleveland Browns W 34–20 1–0 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 2 September 20 at Detroit Lions W 27–13 2–0 Ford Field Recap 3 September 27 San Francisco 49ers W 27–24 3–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 4 October 5 Green Bay Packers W 30–23 4–0 Mall of America Field Recap 5 October 11 at St. Louis Rams W 38–10 5–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap 6 October 18 Baltimore Ravens W 33–31 6–0 Mall of America Field Recap 7 October 25 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–27 6–1 Heinz Field Recap 8 November 1 at Green Bay Packers W 38–26 7–1 Lambeau Field Recap 9 Bye week 10 November 15 Detroit Lions W 27–10 8–1 Mall of America Field Recap 11 November 22 Seattle Seahawks W 35–9 9–1 Mall of America Field Recap 12 November 29 Chicago Bears W 36–10 10–1 Mall of America Field Recap 13 December 6 at Arizona Cardinals L 17–30 10–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 14 December 13 Cincinnati Bengals W 30–10 11–2 Mall of America Field Recap 15 December 20 at Carolina Panthers L 7–26 11–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 16 December 28 at Chicago Bears L 30–36 (OT) 11–4 Soldier Field Recap 17 January 3 New York Giants W 44–7 12–4 Mall of America Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cleveland Browns
The Vikings began their season at Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 1 interconference duel with the Cleveland Browns. In the first quarter, Minnesota trailed as Browns kicker Phil Dawson got a 37-yard field goal. The Vikings answered with kicker Ryan Longwell making a 21-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Minnesota took the lead as running back Adrian Peterson got a 1-yard touchdown run. Cleveland retook their lead as Dawson kicked a 20-yard field goal, along with wide receiver Joshua Cribbs returning a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Vikings took control as Peterson got a 1-yard touchdown run, along with quarterback Brett Favre completing a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin. Afterwards, Minnesota put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter; Ryan Longwell nailed a 37-yard field goal, while Adrian Peterson got a 64-yard touchdown run. The Browns closed out the game with quarterback Brady Quinn completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Robert Royal.
With the win, the Vikings began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Detroit Lions
Coming off their road win over the Browns, the Vikings flew to Ford Field for a Week 2 NFC North duel with the Detroit Lions. Minnesota trailed early as Lions kicker Jason Hanson got a 30-yard field goal. Detroit added to their lead in the second quarter as quarterback Matthew Stafford completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The Vikings ended the half with a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Favre to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.
In the third quarter, Minnesota took the lead as kicker Ryan Longwell made a 46-yard field goal, followed by running back Adrian Peterson getting a 27-yard touchdown run. The Vikings pulled away as Longwell nailed a 46-yard field goal, followed by Favre completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin. The Lions completed the scoring as Hanson got a 48-yard field goal.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 2–0.
Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Coming off their divisional road win over the Lions, the Vikings played their Week 3 home opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota opened in the first quarter with quarterback Brett Favre's 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sidney Rice. The Vikings added onto their lead in the second quarter with kicker Ryan Longwell's 40-yard field goal, but the 49ers answered with quarterback Shaun Hill's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. Minnesota came back with Longwell's 52-yard field goal, but San Francisco took the lead prior to halftime as cornerback Nate Clements returned a blocked field goal 59 yards for a touchdown.
The 49ers increased their lead in the second half with kicker Joe Nedney's 37-yard field goal, but the Vikings immediately responded with rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin returning a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, San Francisco got the lead again with Hill hooking up with Davis on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Minnesota came up with a dramatic win as Favre completed a game-winning 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis with 2 seconds remaining in the game. The pass was later awarded an ESPY for "Best Play". The game was also voted as the best game of the regular season by voters on NFL.com.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 3–0.
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Coming off their last-second win over the 49ers, the Vikings stayed at home, donned their throwback uniforms, and prepared for the highly anticipated Week 4 NFC North Monday Night Football duel with the Green Bay Packers. This was a key divisional match-up, as the division lead was on the line, while quarterback Brett Favre was pitted against his former team. Favre entered the stadium to a series of boos coming from Green Bay fans throughout the stadium.