The
2020 season was the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...
' 60th in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL), their fifth playing home games at
U.S. Bank Stadium
U.S. Bank Stadium is an enclosed stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Built on the former site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the indoor stadium opened in 2016 and is the home of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Footbal ...
and their seventh under
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...
Mike Zimmer. This was the Vikings' first time since
2005
File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
that long-time assistant
Kevin Stefanski
Kevin Lawrence Stefanski (born May 8, 1982) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to ...
was not part of the Vikings coaching staff, as he left to become the new head coach of the
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference ( ...
on January 12, 2020. After going 1–5 in their first six games for the first time since
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
, the team failed to improve upon their 10–6 record from
2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
after a Week 11 loss to the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...
and failed to match their 10–6 record after a Week 14 loss to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...
. The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention following a week 16 loss to the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
, and ultimately finished 7–9, their first losing season since
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
. The Vikings conceded 475 points during the season, the third-highest total in franchise history, although they also managed to score 430 points, also the third-most in team history.
Offseason
Transactions
Draft
The Vikings had a total of 15 selections in the
2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 NFL Draft was the 85th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season. The first round was held on April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24. The d ...
, a record number since the draft moved to a seven-round format in 1994. Although they had lost their original fifth-round pick to the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...
in the trade for kicker/punter
Kaare Vedvik
Kaare Vedvik (born March 16, 1994) is a Norwegian professional gridiron football placekicker and punter for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Marshall and signed with the Baltimore ...
prior to the 2019 season and their seventh-round pick in the trade that sent wide receiver
Stefon Diggs to the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...
earlier in the 2020 offseason, the Diggs trade gave the Vikings extra picks in the first, fifth and sixth rounds. They also had an extra pick in the seventh round after trading guard
Danny Isidora
Danny Isidora (born June 5, 1994) is an American football guard who is a free agent. He played college football at Miami (FL). Isidora was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Mia ...
to the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...
at the start of the 2019 season, as well as one compensatory pick in the third round and two in the seventh as a result of free agency losses in 2019.
After taking
Louisiana State
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisian ...
wide receiver
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jamal Jefferson (born June 16, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU Tigers football, LSU and was drafted by the Vikings in the first ...
22nd overall with the first-round pick they acquired from the Bills, the Vikings traded their original first-round pick (25th overall) to the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
in exchange for the 31st overall pick, as well as selections in the fourth and fifth rounds; with the 31st overall pick, the Vikings took
Texas Christian cornerback
Jeff Gladney. The Vikings used their second-round pick on
Boise State
Boise State University (BSU) is a public research university in Boise, Idaho. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church, it became an independent junior college in 1934 and has been awarding baccalaureate and master's degrees It became a publ ...
offensive tackle
Ezra Cleveland, then took
Mississippi State cornerback
Cameron Dantzler in the third round, before trading their third-round compensatory pick to the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
for the Saints' remaining picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.
In the fourth round, the Vikings used the picks they acquired from the 49ers and Saints to select
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
defensive end
D. J. Wonnum
Dennis O. "D. J." Wonnum Jr (born October 31, 1997) is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Early years
Wonnum grew up in S ...
and
Baylor defensive tackle
James Lynch, before taking
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
linebacker
Troy Dye
Troy Dye (born September 18, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon.
Early years
Dye attended Norco High School in Norco, California where he ...
with their original fourth-round pick. The Vikings traded the fifth-round pick they acquired from the Bills to the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...
for a fourth-round pick in the
2021 draft, before using their remaining fifth-round selections on
Temple Owls
The Temple Owls are the athletic teams that represent Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The current athletic director is Arthur Johnson.
The owl has been the symbol and mascot for Temple University since its founding in the 18 ...
cornerback
Harrison Hand and
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
wide receiver
K. J. Osborn
Kendrick Osborn Jr. (born June 10, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo and Miami (FL). Osborn was selected by the Minnesota Viking ...
. In the sixth round, the Vikings traded the other pick they acquired from the Bills – along with the seventh-round selection they got from the Dolphins – to the Ravens for another seventh-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2021 before taking
Oregon State offensive tackle
Blake Brandel
Blake Brandel (born January 23, 1997) is an American football offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State, and was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of the ...
and
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
safety
Josh Metellus. The Vikings then had four remaining picks in the seventh round, which they used on
Michigan State Spartans defensive end
Kenny Willekes
Kenny Willekes (born July 22, 1997) is an American football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State.
Early years
Willekes attended NorthPointe Christian High Sc ...
,
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
quarterback
Nate Stanley, Mississippi State safety
Brian Cole II and
Washburn
Washburn (alternatively Wasseburne, Wasseborne, Wasshebourne, Wassheborne, Washbourne, Washburne, Washborne, Washborn, Wasborn, Washbon) is a toponymic surname, probably of Old English origin, with likely Anglo-Norman and Norman-French influen ...
guard
Kyle Hinton
Kyle Hinton (born February 27, 1998) is an American football guard for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washburn. He was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draf ...
.
Notes
*The Vikings were awarded three
compensatory selections at the
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
's annual spring owners' meetings. They received one additional pick in the third round and two in the seventh round, compensating for the losses of
Sheldon Richardson
Sheldon Adam Richardson (born November 29, 1990) is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Richardson has ...
,
Trevor Siemian
Trevor John Siemian (born December 26, 1991) is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round ...
and
Tom Compton
Thomas Andrew Compton (born May 10, 1989) is an American football offensive tackle for the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Dakota and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2012 NF ...
.
Draft trades
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
The Vikings' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was canceled in late July due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
Regular season
Schedule
The Vikings'
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...
schedule was announced on May 7.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers
This was the Vikings' first loss in their season opener since 2015. The 43 points scored by the Packers was the most the Vikings had conceded in a season opener in franchise history. Wide receiver
Adam Thielen
Adam John Thielen (born August 22, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota State and signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agen ...
scored two touchdowns for the first time since Week 5 of the 2019 season against the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
.
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
This loss dropped the Vikings to 0–2 for the first time since
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
. Quarterback
Kirk Cousins was intercepted three times on 26 pass attempts that included just 11 completions for 113 yards; he ended up with a passer rating of 15.9.
Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 4: at Houston Texans
Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 8: at Green Bay Packers
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
With the loss, Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs, clinching their first losing season since 2014 and only the second under head coach Mike Zimmer.
Week 17: at Detroit Lions
Standings
Division
Conference
Statistics
Team leaders
Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website
League rankings
Source: NFL.com
Pro Bowl
Two Vikings players—running back
Dalvin Cook
Dalvin James Cook (born August 10, 1995) is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State, where he finished his career as the school's all-time lea ...
and rookie wide receiver
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jamal Jefferson (born June 16, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU Tigers football, LSU and was drafted by the Vikings in the first ...
—were selected for the
2021 Pro Bowl
The 2021 Pro Bowl was to be the National Football League all-star game for the 2020 NFL season, originally scheduled to be played on January 31, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
On October 14, 2020, the NFL announced that it had c ...
, the team's lowest contribution to the event since
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, when they had no Pro Bowlers. Cook received the most votes among NFC running backs to go to his second Pro Bowl (after his rookie season in
2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...
), and only
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
received more votes out of any position in the NFC team, while Jefferson was the Vikings' first rookie wide receiver to be selected since
Percy Harvin
William Percival Harvin III (born May 28, 1988) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Florida, when the Gators won the BCS National Championship in 2006 and 2008, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings o ...
in
2009
File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...
.
References
External links
*
{{2020 NFL season by team
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
Minnesota Vikings seasons
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...