American Football Database
Register
Advertisement
2001 Minnesota Vikings season
Head Coach Dennis Green (Weeks 1–16)
Mike Tice (Week 17)
Home Field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record 5–11
Place 4th NFC Central
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Pro Bowlers
Timeline
Previous season Next season
2000 2002

The 2001 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 41st in the National Football League. 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 Viking fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, a loss to the Ravens.

The season began in tragic circumstances when offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp.

The season started off with a 24–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers. 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 six, and a week ten victory over the Giants in which Randy Moss pulled in 10 receptions for 171 yards and 3 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[]

=Pro Bowler
2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Choice Overall
1 27 27 Michael Bennett Running Back Wisconsin
2 26 27 Willie Howard Defensive end Stanford
3 7 69 Eric Kelly Cornerback Kentucky from Patriots[a]
24 86 Traded to the New England Patriots[a]
4 24 119 Traded to the New England Patriots[a]
35 130 Shawn Worthen Defensive tackle Texas Christian Compensatory pick[b]
36 131 Cedric James Wide receiver Texas Christian Compensatory pick[b]
5 26 118 Patrick Chukwurah Linebacker Wyoming
6 26 189 Carey Scott Cornerback Kentucky State
7 25 225 Brian Crawford Defensive Tackle Western Oregon
^[a] Minnesota traded their 3rd round selection (86th overall) and 4th round selection (119th overall) to New England to move up 17 spots to the 69th overall selection and make this pick.
^[b] Minnesota was awarded two compensatory pick in the 4th round for the loss of free agents Jeff Christy, Duane Clemons, Jeff George, and Jimmy Hitchcock in the 2000 offseason.

Undrafted free agents[]

2001 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Brian Russell Safety San Diego State
Mike Solwold Long snapper Wisconsin

Preseason[]

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

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Kickoff (CT) Opponent Results Venue TV NFL Recap Attendance
Final score Team record
1 September 9 12:00 pm Carolina Panthers L 13–24 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Recap 64,108
2 September 23 12:00 pm at Chicago Bears L 10–17 0–2 Soldier Field FOX Recap 66,944
3 September 30 12:00 pm Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–16 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Recap 64,105
4 October 7 12:00 pm at New Orleans Saints L 15–28 1–3 Louisiana Superdome FOX Recap 70,020
5 October 14 12:00 pm Detroit Lions W 31–26 2–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Recap 64,048
6 October 21 3:15 pm Green Bay Packers W 35–13 3–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Recap 64,165
7 October 28 12:00 pm at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–41 3–4 Raymond James Stadium FOX Recap 65,558
8 Bye week
9 November 11 3:15 pm at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–48 3–5 Veterans Stadium FOX Recap 65,638
10 November 19 8:00 pm New York Giants W 28–16 4–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome ABC Recap 64,283
11 November 25 7:30 pm Chicago Bears L 6–13 4–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome ESPN Recap 64,214
12 December 2 12:00 pm at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–21 4–7 Heinz Field FOX Recap 62,661
13 December 9 12:00 pm Tennessee Titans W 42–24 5–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome CBS Recap 64,271
14 December 16 12:00 pm at Detroit Lions L 24–27 5–8 Pontiac Silverdome FOX Recap 72,190
15 December 23 12:00 pm Jacksonville Jaguars L 3–33 5–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome CBS Recap 64,150
16 December 30 12:00 pm at Green Bay Packers L 13–24 5–10 Lambeau Field FOX Recap 59,870
17 January 7 8:00 pm at Baltimore Ravens L 3–19 5–11 M&T Bank Stadium ABC Recap 69,465

Notes

  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings[]

Template:2001 NFC Central standings

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

Personnel[]

Staff[]

2001 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office
  • Owner – Red McCombs
  • President – Gary Woods
  • Vice President of Football Administration – Rob Brzezinski

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Sherman Lewis
  • Quarterbacks – Alex Wood
  • Running Backs – Carl Hargrave
  • Wide Receivers – Charlie Baggett
  • Tight Ends – John Tice
  • Assistant Offensive Line/Quality Control – Dean Dalton
 

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]

Final roster[]

2001 Minnesota Vikings roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 48 Matt Cercone TE
  • 15 Kenny Clark WR
  • 49 Jeff Kostrewa TE
  • 38 Mesene Louisdor CB
  • 69 Mike Malano G
  • -- DeWayne Miles FB
  • 27 Brian Russell FS


Rookies in italics
53 Active, 6 Inactive, 7 Practice squad

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Baltimore Denver Arizona Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cincinnati Kansas City Dallas Detroit Carolina
Miami Cleveland Oakland NY Giants Green Bay New Orleans
New England Jacksonville San Diego Philadelphia Minnesota St. Louis
NY Jets Pittsburgh Seattle Washington Tampa Bay San Francisco
Tennessee
2001 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXXVI
Advertisement