The
Uniforms of the Minnesota Vikings!
Titled “Eat, Sleep, Vikings,” and licensed by the National Football League, we present the uniforms history of the Minnesota Vikings.
Please note the print visuals shown here
on our website simply cannot do justice to the meticulous detail of the actual
print. In addition, the year each
uniform was first introduced is inscribed underneath. Please
also note the uniforms print you receive may have been updated with additional
uniforms than what is shown on the print displayed above.
Framed Version 1
Framed with our classy multi-grooved
black frame and matted in black with a white accent mat, this is one striking
artpiece. Measuring 12 ˝ inches by 22 ˝
inches with glass covering, it comes fully assembled and ready to hang or
lean. The cost is a welcoming $49 each and there is a one-time $6 discount shipping cost regardless of how many items
you order!
Below is an example of the framed and
matted version, which depicts the St. Louis Cardinals:
Framed Version 2
Framed with a gold metal frame, this
is our “thrills but no frills”
version. Measuring 5 ˝ inches by 15 ˝
inches with a glass covering, it comes fully assembled and ready to hang, lean
or lay flat. The cost is a welcoming $29 each and there is a one-time $6 discount shipping cost regardless of how many items
you order!
Below is an example of the framed
version with no mats, which depicts the Chicago Bears:
Framed Version 3
This is our Personalized
version. Framed with our multi-grooved
black frame with a black mat, there is an opening in the mat to add your
photo. It measures 12 ˝ inches x 27
inches with glass cover—and we make it easy to add your photo to this fully
assembled, ready-to-hang-or-lean artpiece.
The cost is only $79 each and there is a
one-time $6 discount shipping cost regardless of
how many items you order!
Below is an
example of the framed Personalized version, which depicts the New York Giants:
CLICK HERE for more detailed information concerning
this super Personalized artpiece.
Please note all credit card orders and
money orders are promptly shipped within 24 to 72 hours. Personal checks are shipped within 24 to 72
hours once the check has cleared.
Click Here to Order with
our Secure Shopping Cart
Please call us toll-free at 1-800-786-3022 between
10am and 7pm (Eastern) Monday through
Friday,
and 3pm to 7pm Sunday with your Visa, MasterCard,
or Discover credit card order.
Or you can fill out and mail our Order Form with your
Check (made out to The Greatest-Scapes), Money Order,
or Credit Card information to:
The
Greatest-Scapes•P.O.
Box 11548•Pittsburgh,
PA 15238.
Please click here for our Printable Order Form
You can also fax the Order Form anytime to
1-800-519-3884.
There
is a complete 30-day, moneyback
guarantee including ALL shipping.
Got Questions?
Our frustration-free Customer
Service is available
between 10am and 7pm (Eastern)
Monday through Friday,
and 3pm to 7pm Sunday at
1-800-786-3022.
Or you can E-mail us at greatestscapes@hotmail.com
Click here to return to List of Teams and
Leagues
#1.
1961 The beginning of Minnesota’s NFL history is
quite intriguing, but to understand it you need to know a bit about the
“American Football League”.
The
American Football League (AFL) began in 1960 as an 8 team rival league to the
NFL. Both leagues competed head to head for players, fans and broadcast
revenue. This was the way it was from 1960 to 1965 - two separate leagues, two
separate champions, although few people would have honestly believed that the
AFL champion could have beaten the NFL champs. Then in 1965 the two leagues
agreed to merge. It was decided that beginning in 1970 there would be only one
league, the NFL. In the interim, between 1966 and 1969, the AFL Champion would
play the NFL Champion for the “World Championship”. It was only after the first
World Championship had been played in 1966 that the name “Super Bowl” came into
being.
That
being said, let’s get back to Minnesota in 1959, where the upstart AFL league, in
preparation of its inaugural season in 1960, awards Max Winter and Bill Boyer a
franchise for a team in Minneapolis. Then early in 1960, prior to the start of
the AFL season, the NFL offers the same group an NFL franchise – which they
accept. Thus, the Minnesota Vikings become the NFL’s 14th squad for
the 1961 NFL season instead of an AFL team for the 1960 season.
As
the team’ first coach, ex-player Norman Van Brocklin, who had just led the
Philadelphia Eagles to the 1960 league championship and then retired – faced an
uphill battle of creating a viable, competitive football entity in the ‘Land of
10,000 Lakes’. Convinced that ‘gifted’, New York Giants’ passer George Shaw
could be their quarterback of the future, the Vikings traded for the
quarterback – in turn giving up a 1st round draft pick.
Unfortunately, or fortunately – depending how you look at things, Shaw was
injured in the first quarter of the Vikings’ opening game. Young understudy
Fran Tarkenton took over the helm and helped the Vikings beat the Chicago Bears
37-13 for one of the most impressive debuts in NFL history. Unfortunately, the
rest of the season would not be as rosy as the Vikings would eventually finish
3-11. Tarkenton would, however, go on to lead the Minnesota offence between the
years 61-66 & 72-78 and in the process become one of the NFL’s greatest
passers.
The
’61 HOME uniform showcased here, as worn by Tarkenton and Rip Hawkins, consists
of a simple, yet elegant color schematic and logo design that will go
relatively unchanged over the course of the next 40 years!
Of
note: Bert Rose, the Vikings’ first general manager, selected the Vikings name
because so many Minnesotans can trace their heritage to Scandinavia.
#2.
1962 Another troubled year for Minnesota as they go
2-11-1. The opposition, although usually victorious after a clash with the
Vikings, rarely got excited when faced with the task of playing them.
Minnesota’s belligerent playing style often left opponents injured, or very
tender weeks later. At least this was a
small consolation for fans, who had to endure some of the coldest weather
imaginable while watching games from frigid Metropolitan Stadium.
The
’62 ROAD jersey shown here, almost an exact inverse of the 1961 home jersey
showcases purple numbers with yellow trim. What seems to be missing from the
dark, home version is the thin, yellow trim around the sleeve striping – in
this white jersey the sleeve stripes are simply purple on white.
#3.
1969 In 1967, General Manager Jim Finks brought
Harry P. Grant (aka Bud Grant) to Minnesota Grant brought with him a slew of
Grey Cup championships from his days of coaching the Canadian Football League
Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and a stoic sideline personality. Originally, the
Vikings wanted Grant to be their inaugural skipper back in ’61, but were turned
down at the time. Now they finally had their man.
With
Grant’s help, the mediocre Vikings of the early to mid-60’s quickly turned into
a team to be reckoned with. In 1968, the Vikings had their first winning season
as they went 8-6, and made it to the Western Conference Championship. This 1968
title would be the first of 10 divisional crowns the Vikings would see over the
next 11 years!
In
1969, Grant’s Vikings won all but two games during the regular season, going a
league best 12-2. They went on to beat the Rams in come from behind fashion
23-20 in the NFL Western Conference Championship, then shut down the Browns
27-7 in the NFL Championship game.
As
mentioned in the 1961 jersey history section, in 1965 the AFL and the NFL agreed
to merge. It was decided that beginning in 1970 there would be only one league,
the NFL. In the interim, between 1966 and 1969, the AFL Champion would play the
NFL Champion for the “World Championship”. It was only after the first World
Championship had been played in 1966 that the name “Super Bowl” came into
being.
Thus
it was that in 1969 the Vikings won the NFL Championship, but still had to play
the AFL Champs in Super Bowl IV. In their first Super Bowl appearance, things
didn’t go the Vike’s way as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Vikings 23-7 at
Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
This
1969 white ROAD jersey strays a bit from the 1962 jersey design. First, the
traditional sleeve striping has been moved much higher onto the shoulders –
giving it a more vertical look. Second, the yellow trim typically surrounding
the chest & sleeve numbers has been removed. Third, the team is now wearing
white pants, rather than purple. Note the patch on the left shoulder –
commemorating the NFL’ 50th anniversary. All NFL teams wore this
patch for the ’69 season.
Of
note: In our research we discovered that the Vikings actually wore two
different style road white jerseys in 1969. We have chosen to show this one
because they wore it in the Super Bowl. The other white jersey had the NFL 50
patch on the sleeve, below the uniform number.
Speaking
of Bud Grant, from his first year in 1967 to 1978, the Vikings won 11 division
titles in 14 seasons. They won the NFL championship in 1969 and NFC titles in
1973, 1974 and 1976. Grant retired in 1983 but came back for one year in 1985.
He finished with an all-time 168-108-5 record, making him the eighth-winningest
NFL coach ever.
#4.
1969 The ’69 purple HOME uniform showcased here,
though almost identical to the inaugural version of 1961, was not the only HOME
sweater worn for this season. The Vikings wore another HOME jersey in ’69 – a
simpler, more basic jersey. Just imagine the traditional Vikings’ purple
sweater MINUS the sleeve striping, and yellow trim around the numbers. We chose
to show this jersey because they seemed to wear it in their home playoff games.
Note
the NFL patch on the left shoulder of the jersey. This patch, worn to
commemorate the NFL’s 50th anniversary, was worn by all teams in ’69.
Of special note, the NFL patch was also on the ‘alternate’ jersey mentioned
above – but its location was not on the left shoulder, it was one the lower
left sleeve directly below the uniform numbers.
#5.
1973 Fran Tarkenton returned to the Vikings in ’72
after having spent 5 seasons with the NY Giants, and joined an already lethal
team whose defensive line was known as the ‘Purple People Eaters’ because of
its toughness and ability to devour opposing quarterbacks.
Though
the ’72 team featured Carl Eller, Alan Page, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen – the
Purple People Eaters - the Vikings still only fared 7-7 in the regular season.
The 1973 season, however, was a different story! The Vikings lost only 2 games
in the regular season as they went 12-2. Then in the playoffs they beat the
Redskins 27-20 and the Cowboys right in Dallas 27-10, thus advancing to the
Super Bowl for the 2nd time in 4 years.
But
once again, they came up short in the Super Bowl and the powerful Dolphins won
Super Bowl VIII 24-7.
This
purple HOME jersey (the ‘alternate’ purple home jersey discussed in the 1969
purple painting) is a different take from the traditional Vikings’ home
uniforms. Gone are the sleeve stripes and yellow trim around the numbers –
leaving basic, white numbers on a plain, purple jersey. The belt color has been
switched over to purple from white.
The
white ROAD uniform is almost identical to the ’69 version – with the exception
that this belt is now purple too.
#6.
1974 Another tale of ‘always a brides’ maid…never a
bride’! The Vikings win the NFC Central yet again, this time with a 10-4
record, then take the Divisional Playoff and NFC Championship games 30-14 over
the St. Louis Cardinals and 14-10 over the Rams, only to lose Super Bowl IX at
Tulane Stadium in New Orleans to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6. This is the
Vikings 3rd Super Bowl appearance, and third loss, in 6 years.
This
’74 HOME jersey sees the return of the arm striping – this time it’s purple and
white stripes bordered by yellow trim. The uniform numbers, however, are still
simple and white with no trim.
#7.
1976 It’s déjŕ vu all over again…
The
Vikings dominate in the regular season – going 11-2-1. They then capture the
NFC Championship by beating the Redskins 35-20 and the LA Rams 24-13. And they
then advance to Super Bowl XI, only to lose for the 4th time in 8
seasons – this time to the Oakland Raiders 32-14, in front of over 100,000
people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Look
closely at the ’76 HOME jersey, and you’ll see the ‘mesh’ design used by so
many teams in this era. As mentioned earlier, the tale of the Vikings jerseys
is that they have been remarkable consistent over the franchise’s 40+ years.
Of
note: Let’s pay tribute to the Vikings from the late 60’s to the late 70’s –
during the 11 year period 1968 – 1976, the Vikings went a remarkable 90-35-1 in
regular season play. This is a mark perhaps unequalled by any other team over a
9 year period.
#8.
1989 The Vikings have put their hopes on running
back Herschel Walker, and pull a monstrous trade with the Dallas Cowboys to
acquire this skilled back. Joining Walker on the offense are such notables as
wide receiver Anthony Carter, eventual pro-bowler Randall McDaniel and
quarterback Wade Wilson. The ‘Vikes’ go 10-6 and make the playoffs, but are ousted
41-13 in their first playoff game by the San Francisco 49ers.
Look
very carefully at the ’89 HOME jersey shown here. The jersey is actually made
from two different fabrics, each a different shade of purple! The sleeves and
shoulders are a solid material and lighter shade of purple, while the body of
the jersey is a ‘mesh’ design and is slightly darker in color!
Notice
also that by this time the team has reverted back to a white belt. Also note the
special patch on the left shoulder. The Viking Norseman is sandwiched by the
following: above him – the words ‘20th anniversary 1969 NFL
Champions’ and below him – the phrase ’40 for 60’. The patch commemorates the
Vikings’ winning their first NFL Championship in 1969…but wait a minute…the
Vikings have never won the Super Bowl!?!
The answer to the riddle – before the AFL & NFL leagues merged in
1970, the champions from both leagues faced off in the ‘Super Bowl’ for the
years 1966-69 inclusive. Thus, in ’69, the Vikings were indeed the NFL
Champions, and they played the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Super
Bowl, losing 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
Of
note: Three years earlier, in 1986, Fran Tarkenton became the first Viking to
be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Note
also: In 1982 the Vikings moved into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, leaving
forever the frigid but friendly confines of Metropolitan Stadium.
#9.
1995 We’re now moving into Minnesota’s
‘high-octane’ offensive years! Under coach Dennis Green’s guidance, and with
weapons such as QB Brad Johnson, wide receiver Chris Carter and running back
Robert Smith, the Vikings’ road to respectability has begun – they go 8-8 in
1995 in an extremely competitive NFC Central Division. It will still be a
couple of years before these components become a ‘well-oiled machine’ – but the
parts are there!
One
note about the uniform: If you look closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn
from 1991 on, you’ll note a small NFL shield patch on the jersey’s neckline.
Most NFL uniforms added the NFL logo patch to the neck, and to the upper left
thigh of the pants, beginning in 1991. The only major exception to this
practice was in 1994 when the teams wore their throwback uniforms – in these
throwback cases, teams did not wear the NFL shield patch.
The
1995 ROAD jersey showcased here features some interesting changes from previous
years. Firstly, there’s the NFL shield/patch as mentioned above. Secondly, the
sweater’s sleeves are elasticized to prevent defenders from grabbing hold of
baggy, excess material, and using it to slow down their opponents. Next is the
fact that the conventional purple and yellow striping is now almost completely
vertical. And finally, a commemorative patch celebrating the Vikings’ 35th
anniversary can be found on the left shoulder. It features the ‘Viking’ head;
the number ‘35’ for the team’s 35th anniversary; and the dates
‘1961’ & ‘1995’ sandwiching a large purple ‘V’.
Of
note: In 1991, the Vikings went 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Of all the rotten
luck, given that Super Bowl XXVI was held at the Hubert H. Humprey Metrodome
(which opened in 1982).
#10.
1998 Randall Cunningham is throwing bombs,Randy
Moss is making acrobatic receptions, .and Chris Carter and Randy Moss keep
making TD catch after TD catch. The Vikings’ firepower and offensive attack is
unrelentless, translating into a 15-1 regular season record (their best record
ever) & post-season dates for the boys in purple. Actually, the Vikings’
1998 playoff appearance means they have made the post season 6 times in the
last 7 seasons.
In
round 1 of the playoffs, the Vikings
squared off against the Cardinals and left them reeling - Vikings 41 -
Cardinals 21.
In
the NFC conference final, the Vikings were favored over the surprising Falcons.
But in a topsy turvy, wildly exciting game that went deep into overtime, the
Falcons emerged on top 30 - 27 to end the Vikings Super Bowl XXXIII
aspirations.
This
purple HOME jersey features some terrific nuances: the sleeve striping has been
simplified & condensed – with narrower white & yellow stripes; the
familiar yellow trim from past jerseys has returned, and now “borders” all the
uniform numbers; finally, the Viking head, just as identifiable as the ‘horns’
logo, is now a patch on the sleeves!
#11.
2000 The Vikings are preparing young Daunte
Culpepper to lead this team into the new millenium. A 6’5”, 260 pound
quarterback that can throw, run, and act as his own blocker!
This
purple HOME jersey, as worn by Culpepper, Randy Moss, Chris Carter & Robert
Smith is almost identical to the ’98 model – with a few exceptions. The NFL
patch on the sweater’s neckline is larger than in years past. You’ll also
notice a large patch on the left shoulder, close to the NFL shield, celebrating
the Vikings’ 40th anniversary. It reads: ‘Minnesota Vikings’ at the
top, with the dates ‘1961’ & ‘2000’ sandwiching the legendary Viking head
with the phrase ‘40th anniversary’ at the bottom.
Happy
anniversary, Vikings! May your next 40 years bring you the Super Bowl trophies
you’ve been missing!
Of
note: Over the past 25 years, the Minnesota Vikings have consistently been at
or near the top of their division (the NFC Central). During that 25 year
period, only the Dallas Cowboys have made more playoff appearances than the
Vikings. Furthermore, only four teams (Dallas, San Francisco, Pittsburgh,
Denver) have played in more Super Bowls than Minnesota, which has participated
in four (Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI).
***************************************
The Minnesota Vikings: “Eat, Sleep,
Vikings,”
The Greatest-Scapes is an accredited business of the Better
Business Bureau. We have been a
member of the Better Business Bureau since 1986—and we have an A+ rating. For more detailed information about The Greatest-Scapes,
please click the BBB Logo at left. Thank you
800-786-3022
412-781-3022
E-mail: greatestscapes@hotmail.com
Click here to return to List of Teams and
Leagues