1990 Minnesota Vikings season

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1990 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coachJerry Burns
General managerMike Lynn
Home fieldMetrodome
Results
Record6–10
Division place5th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1990 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 30th in the National Football League. Under head coach Jerry Burns, they finished with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1986. The Vikings went 1–6 through their first seven games, including a five-game losing streak. They then won their next five (including a 41–13 win over the eventual NFC Central champion Chicago Bears in Week 12) to get back to 6–6 and give themselves a shot at a wild card spot in the playoffs; however, the Vikings lost their final four games to finish at 6–10. While their overall record was tied with three other teams in the division, the Vikings' 4–8 record against fellow NFC teams meant they finished bottom of the NFC Central. It was the first time since 1984 Minnesota finished last in the division, and the second since 1968.

Notable additions to the team this season were wide receiver Cris Carter and undrafted defensive lineman John Randle, both of whom would go on to have Hall of Fame careers.

Injuries to the defense and a lackluster season from Herschel Walker were the story of the team's season.

Offseason[]

1990 Draft[]

Main article: 1990 NFL draft
Pro Bowler
1990 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Selection
1 21 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys[a]
2 47 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys[a]
3 54 Mike Jones Tight end Texas A&M from Cowboys[a]
74 Marion Hobby Defensive end Tennessee
4 104 Alonzo Hampton Defensive back Pittsburgh
5 116 Reggie Thornton Wide receiver Bowling Green State from Chargers via Cowboys[a]
131 Cedric Smith Fullback Florida
6 158 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys[a]
7 188 John Levelis Linebacker C. W. Post
8 214 Craig Schlichting Defensive end Wyoming
9 241 Terry Allen Running back Clemson
10 249 Pat Newman Wide receiver Utah State from Cowboys[a]
271 Donald Smith Defensive back Liberty
11 298 Traded to the Los Angeles Raiders[b]
12 324 Ron Goetz Linebacker Minnesota
^[a] These picks were involved in the Herschel Walker trade on October 12, 1989.
^[b] During the 1989 Draft, the Raiders traded their 12th-round selection (335th overall) to Minnesota for their 11th-round selection in the 1990 draft.

Undrafted free agents[]

1990 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Pat Eilers Safety Notre Dame
John Randle Defensive tackle Texas A&M–Kingsville

Staff[]

1990 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front office
  • President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr.
  • General Manager – Mike Lynn
  • Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Marc Trestman

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams/Tight Ends –


[1]

Roster[]

1990 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 48 active, 8 inactive, 1 practice squad

Preseason[]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance[2]
1 August 11 New Orleans Saints L 10–13 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 48,154
2 August 19 at Cleveland Browns W 23–20 1–1 Cleveland Stadium 60,989
3 August 26 Houston Oilers W 22–21 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 46,191
4 August 31 at Miami Dolphins W 20–17 3–1 Joe Robbie Stadium 44,689

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 9 at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–21 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium 68,363
2 September 16 New Orleans Saints W 32–3 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,272
3 September 23 at Chicago Bears L 19–16 1–2 Soldier Field 65,420
4 September 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 23–20 (OT) 1–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,462
5 October 7 Detroit Lions L 34–27 1–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,586
6 October 15 at Philadelphia Eagles L 32–24 1–5 Veterans Stadium 66,296
7 Bye
8 October 28 at Green Bay Packers L 24–10 1–6 Milwaukee County Stadium 55,125
9 November 4 Denver Broncos W 27–22 2–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,331
10 November 11 at Detroit Lions W 17–7 3–6 Silverdome 68,264
11 November 18 at Seattle Seahawks W 24–21 4–6 Kingdome 59,735
12 November 25 Chicago Bears W 41–13 5–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,866
13 December 2 Green Bay Packers W 23–7 6–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,058
14 December 9 at New York Giants L 23–15 6–7 Giants Stadium 76,121
15 December 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 26–13 6–8 Tampa Stadium 47,272
16 December 22 Los Angeles Raiders L 28–24 6–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 53,899
17 December 30 San Francisco 49ers L 20–17 6–10 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,590

Standings[]

NFC Central
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 W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Chicago Bears 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 348 280 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 5–3 6–8 264 367 L2
Detroit Lions 6 10 0 .375 3–5 5–7 373 413 L1
Green Bay Packers 6 10 0 .375 3–5 5–7 271 347 L5
Minnesota Vikings 6 10 0 .375 3–5 4–8 351 326 L4

Statistics[]

Team leaders[]

Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Rich Gannon 2,278
Passing touchdowns Rich Gannon 16
Rushing yards Herschel Walker 770
Rushing touchdowns Herschel Walker 5
Receiving yards Anthony Carter 1,008
Receiving touchdowns Anthony Carter 8
Points Donald Igwebuike 61
Kickoff return yards Herschel Walker 966
Punt return yards Leo Lewis 180
Tackles Henry Thomas 109
Sacks Chris Doleman 11.0
Interceptions Joey Browner 7
Forced fumbles Chris Doleman 4

League rankings[]

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 28)
Passing offense 3,167 197.9 11th
Rushing offense 1,867 116.7 15th
Total offense 5,034 314.6 12th
Passing defense 2,643 165.2 3rd
Rushing defense 2,074 129.6 21st
Total defense 4,717 294.8 13th

Awards and honors[]

  • Randall McDaniel, NFC Pro Bowl selection
  • Randall McDaniel, All-Pro selection by Associated Press
  • Randall McDaniel, All-NFC selection by UPI

References[]

  1. ^ 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ "1990 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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