Record 9–7 Playoff finish Lost Divisional Head coach Bud Grant Home field Metropolitan Stadium | Division place 1st NFC Central Start date 1980 General manager Mike Lynn | |
People also search for 1981 Minnesota Vikings season | ||
The 1980 Minnesota Vikings season was the team's 20th year in the National Football League's 61st season. The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and seven losses. The Vikings won the NFC Central division, winning the tiebreaker with Detroit, who also had a 9–7 record.
Contents
The most dramatic game of the season came in a Week 15 home game against Cleveland, with Minnesota at 8–6. The Vikings came back from a fourteen-point deficit to come within 23–22, with only 0:05 left on the clock from Cleveland's 46-yard line. (The Vikings had missed two field goals and two extra points during the game.) Quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a hail mary pass which was caught by Ahmad Rashād at the two yard line. Rashād backed into the end zone to give Minnesota a 28–23 win with no time left.
1980 Draft
^[a] Minnesota traded their 2nd round selection (39th overall) and 3rd round selection (65th overall) to San Francisco to move up 9 spots to the 30th overall selection and make this pick. ^[b] New Orleans traded their 3rd round selection (68th overall) and 5th round selection (122nd overall) to Minnesota for RB Steve Riley. ^[c] Minnesota traded their 8th round selection (205th overall) to Seattle for DL Steve Niehaus. ^[d] Minnesota originally chose 232nd overall but passed allowing Buffalo to move up and Minnesota to choose 233rd overall.Week 15
Trailing 23–9 entering the fourth quarter the Vikings came back and won on a desperation Hail Mary pass from quarterback Tommy Kramer to wide receiver Ahmad Rashād to clinch the NFC Central Division title in what became known as the "Miracle at the Met".