The Minnesota Vikings’ 1970–77 Purple Individuals Eaters period was outlined by sustained success below head coach Bud Grant. Minnesota gained seven division titles, reached 4 Tremendous Bowls and featured a dominant defensive position led by Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Alan Web page and Gary Larsen.
Regardless of sturdy common seasons and playoff runs, the Vikings misplaced all 4 Tremendous Bowls. Fran Tarkenton, Chuck Foreman and different key gamers helped keep the crew’s competitiveness, whereas the Purple Individuals Eaters established an enduring defensive legacy.
The Minnesota Vikings spent a lot of the Nineteen Seventies among the many NFL’s strongest groups. They gained seven division titles between the 1970 and 1977 seasons and reached three Tremendous Bowls from the 1973, 1974 and 1976 campaigns.
Their wider championship run stretched even additional. Minnesota entered Tremendous Bowl IV in January 1970 after profitable the 1969 NFL Championship, that means the franchise appeared in 4 Tremendous Bowls between January 1970 and January 1977.
They misplaced all 4.
That absence of a Tremendous Bowl victory shapes any evaluation of the period. But it doesn’t diminish how persistently Minnesota competed below head coach Bud Grant, or how influential their defence grew to become.
On the centre stood the Purple Individuals Eaters, a defensive entrance constructed round Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Alan Web page and Gary Larsen. They gave Minnesota an id that continues to be carefully related to the franchise greater than half a century later.
For readers exploring the broader growth of the league throughout this era, World in Sport’s historical past of American soccer covers the NFL-AFL merger and the expansion of the Tremendous Bowl period.
How Bud Grant remodeled Minnesota
Minnesota appointed Grant as their second head coach in March 1967.
He had already gained 4 Gray Cups throughout a decade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canadian soccer. His method in Minnesota positioned a premium on preparation, self-discipline and defence.
The outcomes got here rapidly.
Minnesota gained their first division title in 1968. A yr later, the Vikings completed 12-2, defeated the Los Angeles Rams within the Western Convention Championship Recreation and beat the Cleveland Browns 27-7 to win the ultimate NFL Championship earlier than the completion of the AFL-NFL merger.
That victory despatched them to Tremendous Bowl IV towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on 11 January 1970.
Kansas Metropolis gained 23-7 in New Orleans.
It grew to become the primary of 4 Tremendous Bowl defeats throughout Grant’s first spell in cost, however Minnesota didn’t disappear after that setback. They returned with one other 12-2 common season in 1970 and gained their third consecutive division title.
The Purple Individuals Eaters set the usual
Minnesota’s defensive position grew to become the defining unit of the crew.
Eller lined up at defensive finish reverse Marshall. Web page and Larsen operated inside. The group grew to become often called the Purple Individuals Eaters and performed on the coronary heart of a defence that repeatedly put Minnesota among the many NFL’s main sides.
The Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s profile of Carl Eller identifies Eller, Marshall, Web page and Larsen because the core of the well-known unit. Eller later completed his Vikings profession having performed on groups that gained 10 division titles in an 11-season interval starting in 1968.
Their success was about greater than a memorable nickname.
Minnesota led the NFL in scoring defence for 3 consecutive seasons from 1969 to 1971. In 1971, opponents averaged fewer than 10 factors per sport towards the Vikings.
Web page acquired the clearest particular person recognition.
The defensive sort out grew to become the primary defensive participant to win the Related Press NFL Most Worthwhile Participant award in 1971. Minnesota completed 11-3 and secured a fourth straight division championship that season earlier than dropping 20-12 to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys within the Divisional Spherical.
Web page’s award captured the significance of the defence. Minnesota didn’t merely depend on one pass-rusher or one dominant season. Their entrance helped maintain a run of competition throughout altering opponents, offensive personnel and playoff disappointments.
Fran Tarkenton returns to Minnesota
The Vikings strengthened the opposite facet of the ball by bringing Fran Tarkenton again in 1972.
Minnesota had initially drafted Tarkenton in 1961 earlier than buying and selling him to the New York Giants in 1967. 5 years later, the Vikings reacquired him in a deal that despatched Norm Snead, Bob Grim, Vince Clements and first-round draft decisions in 1972 and 1973 to New York.
The rapid end result was disappointing.
Minnesota completed 7-7 in 1972 and missed the playoffs. It was the one season between 1968 and 1977 by which the Vikings didn’t win their division.
The response in 1973 confirmed the energy of the broader crew.
Minnesota gained their opening 9 video games and completed 12-2. Tarkenton gave the Vikings an skilled quarterback able to extending performs, whereas operating again Chuck Foreman added one other dimension to the offence.
A crew as soon as outlined overwhelmingly by its defensive entrance now carried extra stability.
The Vikings beat Washington within the Divisional Spherical after which travelled to Dallas for the NFC Championship Recreation. A 27-10 victory over the Cowboys secured one other probability to win the Tremendous Bowl.
Miami halt the 1973 Vikings
Tremendous Bowl VIII matched Minnesota towards a Miami Dolphins crew trying to defend their championship.
The Dolphins had accomplished the NFL’s solely excellent season a yr earlier.
World in Sport’s have a look at the Miami Dolphins’ unbeaten 1972 marketing campaign explains how Don Shula constructed the facet that Minnesota confronted.
Miami managed Tremendous Bowl VIII.
Larry Csonka rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns because the Dolphins gained 24-7 in Houston on 13 January 1974. Minnesota managed solely seven factors towards Miami’s defence and once more left the Tremendous Bowl with no championship.
The defeat might have ended the Vikings’ strongest interval.
As a substitute, they went again.
Minnesota reaches consecutive Tremendous Bowls
The 1974 Vikings completed 10-4 and gained the NFC Central once more.
Minnesota then defeated the St Louis Cardinals earlier than beating the Los Angeles Rams 14-10 within the NFC Championship Recreation at Metropolitan Stadium.
That victory despatched Grant’s crew to Tremendous Bowl IX towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As soon as once more, the Vikings encountered an elite defence.
Pittsburgh gained 16-6 at Tulane Stadium on 12 January 1975. Minnesota failed to attain an offensive landing, with their solely factors coming after a blocked punt arrange a recovered ball ultimately zone.
The end result meant the Vikings had misplaced three Tremendous Bowls in six years when together with their look following the 1969 season.
Their Tremendous Bowl report throughout the peak period reads:
| Season | Tremendous Bowl | End result |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Tremendous Bowl IV | Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 23-7 Minnesota Vikings |
| 1973 | Tremendous Bowl VIII | Miami Dolphins 24-7 Minnesota Vikings |
| 1974 | Tremendous Bowl IX | Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6 Minnesota Vikings |
| 1976 | Tremendous Bowl XI | Oakland Raiders 32-14 Minnesota Vikings |
The 1975 Vikings fall to the Hail Mary
Minnesota might have been even stronger throughout the next common season.
The Vikings opened 1975 with 10 consecutive victories and ultimately completed 12-2, the perfect report within the NFL. It was their third successive NFC Central title and seventh division championship in eight seasons.
Tarkenton gained the NFL MVP award after main probably the most full groups of Grant’s tenure.
But their season ended earlier than one other NFC Championship Recreation.
Minnesota led Dallas 14-10 late of their Divisional Spherical assembly at Metropolitan Stadium. Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach then discovered Drew Pearson for a 50-yard landing with 24 seconds remaining.
Dallas gained 17-14.
The decisive reception grew to become probably the most well-known performs in NFL playoff historical past. Minnesota disputed the dearth of an offensive cross interference name towards Pearson. However the end result stood, and one of many Vikings’ finest regular-season groups went out of their first playoff sport.
For a facet accustomed to deep postseason runs, the defeat was notably extreme. The Vikings had gained 12 video games and appeared able to reaching a 3rd consecutive Tremendous Bowl, just for their season to finish inside seconds.
One ultimate Tremendous Bowl run
Minnesota returned in 1976.
The Vikings completed 11-2-1, the perfect report within the NFC, and Grant acquired NFL Coach of the 12 months honours.
They beat Washington 35-20 within the Divisional Spherical earlier than dealing with the Rams in one other NFC Championship Recreation.
Minnesota gained 24-13 at Metropolitan Stadium. It was their third NFC championship in 4 seasons and secured a fourth Tremendous Bowl look in franchise historical past.
Tremendous Bowl XI happened towards the Oakland Raiders on the Rose Bowl on 9 January 1977.
Oakland managed a lot of the sport and accrued 429 yards of offence. Minnesota turned the ball over thrice and misplaced 32-14.
The fourth defeat established a troublesome a part of the Vikings’ historic id.
Grant had taken Minnesota to 4 Tremendous Bowls. Tarkenton had quarterbacked three of these groups. The Purple Individuals Eaters had supplied the defensive basis throughout the broader interval.
None completed with the Lombardi Trophy.
The 1977 Vikings make another run
The championship window had not utterly closed.
Minnesota completed 9-5 in 1977 and secured a fifth consecutive NFC Central title. It was additionally their ninth division championship in 10 seasons.
The Vikings then travelled to face the Rams within the Divisional Spherical.
Minnesota gained 14-7 earlier than assembly Dallas at Texas Stadium within the NFC Championship Recreation on 1 January 1978.
This time there was no slender end.
The Cowboys beat Minnesota 23-6 and went on to win Tremendous Bowl XII. The defeat introduced the Vikings’ 1977 marketing campaign to an finish after one other division championship and one other look within the ultimate 4 of the NFL playoffs.
Why the Purple Individuals Eaters period nonetheless issues
Minnesota’s failure to win a Tremendous Bowl prevents this crew from being judged in the identical means because the champions who defeated them.
That distinction issues.
Miami gained consecutive Tremendous Bowls. Pittsburgh established a championship dynasty. Oakland lastly transformed their very own sustained competition right into a Tremendous Bowl XI victory over Minnesota.
The Vikings’ achievement was totally different.
From 1970 to 1977, they gained seven division championships. Throughout the broader 1968–77 run, they claimed 9 division titles in 10 seasons.
From 1973 by means of 1976 alone, Minnesota went 45-10-1 throughout the common season. Solely Miami produced a greater four-season profitable share throughout the Tremendous Bowl period at that time.
Grant equipped the continuity. Tarkenton misplaced its defining quarterback throughout the later championship runs. Foreman grew to become an vital a part of the backfield, whereas gamers equivalent to Ron Yary, Mick Tingelhoff and Paul Krause strengthened a roster containing elite expertise past its celebrated defensive position.
However the Purple Individuals Eaters stay the lasting image.
Web page, Eller, Marshall and Larsen helped flip defence into Minnesota’s id.
Their popularity has survived effectively sufficient for comparisons to return at any time when a more moderen Vikings defence begins to dominate, together with in World in Sport’s later have a look at the Purple Individuals Eaters title and Minnesota’s fashionable defence.
The lacking Tremendous Bowl victory stays a part of the story quite than one thing to miss.
So do the seven division titles, repeated postseason runs and 4 Tremendous Bowl appearances that surrounded this period.
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