2001 Minnesota Vikings season
OwnerRed McCombs
General managerDennis Green
Head coachDennis Green (Weeks 1–16)
Mike Tice (Week 17)
Home fieldHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record5–11
Division place4th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
2
Uniform

The 2001 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 41st in the National Football League (NFL). Despite having a 12th ranked offense, the Vikings finished 5–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Before the end of the season, the team fired head coach Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing force among the Vikings fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

This was the first season since 1989 that defensive tackle John Randle was not on the opening day roster.

The season began in tragic circumstances when offensive tackle Korey Stringer died of heatstroke in training camp.

The season started off with a 24–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers (which would be the Panthers' lone win). They did not win on the road at all during this season. Some season highlights included a 35–13 win over the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 6, and a Week 10 victory over the New York Giants in which Randy Moss pulled in 10 receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns leading to a 28–16 victory.

This was Cris Carter's final season in Minnesota, having played 12 seasons there, making eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (1993–2000), all with the Vikings. He is the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He retired at the end of the disappointing season, but would briefly return to play for the Miami Dolphins midway through next season.

Offseason

Additions Subtractions
WR Jake Reed (Saints) LB Dwayne Rudd (Browns)
TE Byron Chamberlain (Broncos) DT John Randle (Seahawks)

2001 Draft

Main article: 2001 NFL draft
Pro Bowler
2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Selection
1 27 Michael Bennett Running back Wisconsin
2 57 Willie Howard Defensive end Stanford
3 69 Eric Kelly Cornerback Kentucky From Patriots[a]
86 Traded to the New England Patriots[a]
4 119 Traded to the New England Patriots[a]
130 Shawn Worthen Defensive tackle Texas Christian Compensatory pick[b]
131 Cedric James Wide receiver Texas Christian Compensatory pick[b]
5 157 Patrick Chukwurah Linebacker Wyoming
6 189 Carey Scott Cornerback Kentucky State
7 225 Brian Crawford Defensive tackle Western Oregon
^[a] The Vikings traded their third- and fourth-round selections (86th and 119th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for New England's third-round selection (69th overall).
^[b] The Vikings were awarded two compensatory picks in the fourth round for the losses of Jeff Christy, Duane Clemons, Jeff George and Jimmy Hitchcock.

Undrafted free agents

2001 Undrafted Free Agents
Player Position College
Brian Russell Safety San Diego State
Mike Solwold Long snapper/Tight end Wisconsin

Staff

2001 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Emmitt Thomas
  • Defensive line – Brian Baker
  • Inside linebackers – Richard Solomon
  • Outside linebackers – Chuck Knox Jr.
  • Defensive assistant – Trent Walters

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

[1]

Roster

2001 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
 53 active, 9 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
1 August 11 at New Orleans Saints W 28–21 1–0 Alamodome (San Antonio, TX) 46,752 Recap
2 August 16 Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–10 2–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,790 Recap
3 August 24 Indianapolis Colts W 28–21 3–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,804 Recap
4 August 31 at Miami Dolphins W 20–7 4–0 Pro Player Stadium 60,136 Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 14 0728
Saints 7 0 7721

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

  • Date: August 11
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 46,752
  • Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 2: Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 0 3010
Vikings 0 17 0724

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Week 3: Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 10 0 8321
Vikings 0 14 7728

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: August 24
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 63,804
  • Referee: Tom White (123)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at Miami Dolphins

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 10 3720
Dolphins 0 7 007

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: August 31
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT/6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 87 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,136
  • Referee: Perry Havener (61)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game
recap
1 September 9 Carolina Panthers L 13–24 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,108 Recap
2[A] September 23 at Chicago Bears L 10–17 0–2 Soldier Field 66,944 Recap
3 September 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–16 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,105 Recap
4 October 7 at New Orleans Saints L 15–28 1–3 Louisiana Superdome 70,020 Recap
5 October 14 Detroit Lions W 31–26 2–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,048 Recap
6 October 21 Green Bay Packers W 35–13 3–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,165 Recap
7 October 28 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–41 3–4 Raymond James Stadium 65,558 Recap
8 Bye week
9 November 11 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–48 3–5 Veterans Stadium 65,638 Recap
10 November 19 New York Giants W 28–16 4–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,283 Recap
11 November 25 Chicago Bears L 6–13 4–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,214 Recap
12 December 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–21 4–7 Heinz Field 62,661 Recap
13 December 9 Tennessee Titans W 42–24 5–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,271 Recap
14 December 16 at Detroit Lions L 24–27 5–8 Pontiac Silverdome 72,190 Recap
15 December 23 Jacksonville Jaguars L 3–33 5–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,150 Recap
16 December 30 at Green Bay Packers L 13–24 5–10 Lambeau Field 59,870 Recap
17[A] January 7 at Baltimore Ravens L 3–19 5–11 PSINet Stadium 69,465 Recap

Notes

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 1: Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 7724
Vikings 0 0 13013

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 2: at Chicago Bears

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 7010
Bears 0 0 31417

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, fog, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,944
  • Referee: Mike Carey (94)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 3 3716
Vikings 7 3 3720

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 64,105
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at New Orleans Saints

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 0 8015
Saints 6 9 10328

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: October 7
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,020
  • Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 5: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 5: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 3 3 71326
Vikings 7 17 7031

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 0 7613
Vikings 0 20 01535

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 64,165
  • Referee: Ron Winter (14)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 8614
Buccaneers 7 21 13041

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 9: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 10 0717
Eagles 7 24 71048

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 4:15 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,638
  • Referee: Ron Blum (7)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: vs. New York Giants

Week 10: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 10 3 3016
Vikings 7 7 01428

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 8:10 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 64,283
  • Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 11: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 10 0313
Vikings 0 0 336

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 12: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 01316
Steelers 0 7 14021

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 2
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Mostly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,661
  • Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 13: Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 10 0 01424
Vikings 0 14 141442

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 9
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 64,271
  • Referee: Tom White (123)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Detroit Lions

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 0 17024
Lions 14 6 0727

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 72,190
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 15: Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 10 6 71033
Vikings 0 3 003

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 23
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 64,150
  • Referee: Ron Blum (7)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Green Bay Packers

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 3 3713
Packers 0 7 01724

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 19 °F (−7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,870
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 003
Ravens 0 9 3719

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Chicago Bears 13 3 0 .813 338 203 W4
(4) Green Bay Packers 12 4 0 .750 390 266 W3
(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 324 280 L1
Minnesota Vikings 5 11 0 .313 290 390 L4
Detroit Lions 2 14 0 .125 270 424 W1

Statistics

Team leaders

Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Daunte Culpepper 2,612
Passing touchdowns Daunte Culpepper 14
Rushing yards Michael Bennett 682
Rushing touchdowns Daunte Culpepper 5
Receiving yards Randy Moss 1,233
Receiving touchdowns Randy Moss 10
Points Gary Anderson 74
Kickoff return yards Nate Jacquet 1,012
Punt return yards Nate Jacquet 219
Tackles Kailee Wong 98
Sacks Chris Hovan 6
Interceptions Robert Griffith
Eric Kelly		 2
Forced fumbles Patrick Chukwurah 3

League rankings

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 31)
Passing offense 3,576 223.5 7th
Rushing offense 1,609 100.6 25th
Total offense 5,185 324.1 12th
Passing defense 3,367 210.4 18th
Rushing defense 2,299 143.7 30th
Total defense 5,666 354.1 27th

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Vikings were originally scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 17) at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was re-scheduled to Week 17.

References

  1. ^ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
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