Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings joined the NFL in 1961, and except for finishing in 2nd place in 1964, they finished no higher than 4th place in 6 of their first 7 seasons. However, they followed that with first-place finishes in 10 of the next 11 seasons, including 4 Super Bowl losses. 

 

In 1966 they finished in 6th place with a 4-9-1 record, causing the Vikings to replace their inaugural head coach (Norm Van Brocklin) with Bud Grant in 1967. 

 

The cards for Ron Vander Kelen and Lance Rentzel are not in the original 1966 set. These are among the many cards I purchased from RetroCards.net. 

 

The only one of these cards I had before 2023 is Bobby Walden’s. I’ve had that since the 1960s, and it’s in pretty bad shape. 

 

Fran Tarkenton was the Vikings' 3rd-round pick in 1961, and was their starting QB every season from 1961-66, including making 2 Pro Bowl appearances. After a 5-year stay with the Giants (including 4 more Pro Bowls), he returned to Minnesota for another 7 seasons, making the Pro Bowl 3 more times, as well as being named first-team All-Pro in 1975. 

 

He only missed 8 games in his 18-year career, including 5 in 1977. Tarkenton led the NFL in passing yards in his final season, with 3468. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

 

Ron Vander Kelen – Drafted by the Jets in 1963, but not by any NFL team, Vander Kelen was a backup QB for the Vikings from 1963-67. Only once did he start more than 1 game per season, with 3 starts in 1967 (the year Tarkenton departed). 

 

Tommy Mason was the Vikings' #1 pick (first overall) in the 1961 draft. After making only 4 starts in his rookie season, he started almost every game from 1962-64 and was named to the Pro Bowl in each season. After starting half the games in each of ’65 and ’66, he was traded to the Rams, where he was mostly a backup from 1967-70. He finished up with the Redskins in 1971. 

 

Bill Brown was drafted by the Bears in the 2nd round in 1961. After a season on their bench, he was traded to the Vikings, and after spending 1962 on their bench, he was their starting fullback from 1963-69, missing only 2 games in that span while making 4 Pro Bowls. From 1970-74 he played in every game for the Vikings, but only a handful as the starter. 

 

Lance Rentzel was the Vikings’ 2nd-round pick in 1965. After only starting 1 game in each of his first 2 seasons, he was traded to the Cowboys and started every game at flanker for the next 3 seasons. After missing the 1970 season, he started every game for the Rams in 1971. 

 

Paul Flatley was selected in the 4th round by the Vikings in 1963, and was their starting split end for almost every game from 1963-67, making the Pro Bowl in 1966. He also played for the Falcons from 1968-70. 

 

*Gordon Smith – An undrafted free agent, Smith started 29 games at tight end for the Vikings from 1961-65. 

 

Mick Tingelhoff was an undrafted free agent, but started EVERY GAME at center for the Vikings for 17 seasons from 1962-78. From 1964-69, he was named to the Pro Bowl every year and first-team All-Pro 5 times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. (It seems like he was the NFL’s version of Jim Otto.) 

 

Grady Alderman – The Lions’ 10th-round pick in 1960, Alderman was a backup guard in his rookie season. Acquired in the expansion draft, he was the Vikings’ starting left tackle from 1961-73, starting all but 8 games in that 13-year span. He was named to 6 Pro Bowls between 1963 and 1969, and finished his career as a backup in 1974. 

 

Fred Cox – The Browns’ 8th-round pick in 1961, Cox didn’t play until 1963. He played in every game for the Vikings from 1963-77, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1970. 

 

*Rip Hawkins – The Vikings’ 2nd-round pick in 1961, Hawkins played every game at middle linebacker from 1961 to 1965, starting all of them save for 1 game in his rookie season. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1963. 

 

Ed Sharockman was taken in the 5th round in 1961 by the Vikings. After only playing 1 game in his rookie season, he was the team’s starting right cornerback for the next 10 seasons. In 1972 he played in 7 games (1 start) but was released at the end of October. Claimed by the Eagles on the same day, he retired the following day. 

 

Bobby Walden was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1961, but did not play until joining the Vikings in 1964. After 4 seasons with Minnesota, he joined the Steelers and was their punter through the 1977 season. He made the Pro Bowl in 1969, and collected 2 Super Bowl rings with the Steelers. 

 

Hall of Famers - 2 

*Unknown to me before November 2023. 

 

Next: New York Giants