1985 Minnesota Vikings season

1985 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach Bud Grant
(18th season)
General manager Mike Lynn
(Since 1975)
Owner Max Winter
(Since 1961)
Home field Metrodome
Results
Record 7–9
Division place 3rd NFC Central
Playoff finish did not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros

1985 was the 25th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of seven wins and nine losses.

The team was able to bring back Bud Grant. After 18 years, Grant retired.

Offseason

1985 Draft

Main article: 1985 NFL draft
=Pro Bowler
1985 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Choice Overall
122Traded to the Atlanta Falcons[b]from Oilers[a]
33Traded to the Houston Oilers[a]
44 Chris DolemanDefensive EndPittsburghfrom Falcons[b]
2230Issiac HoltCornerbackAlcorn StateProvisional trade not exercised[a][c]
3359Kirk LowdermilkCenterOhio State
460Tim MeamberLinebackerWashingtonfrom Falcons[b]
1066Tim LongOffensive TackleMemphis Statefrom Chargers[d]
4185George RhymesWide ReceiverOklahoma
22106Kyle MorrellDefensive BackBYUfrom Rams[e]
53115Mark MacDonaldOffensive GuardBoston College
62142 Steve BonoQuarterbackUCLA
24164Tim NewtonDefensive TackleFloridafrom Raiders[f]
73171Traded to the Green Bay Packers[g]
82198Nikita BlairLinebackerTexas-El Paso
93227Jamie CovingtonRunning BackSyracuse
102254Juan JohnsonWide ReceiverLangston
113283Tim WilliamsDefensive BackNorth Carolina A&T
122310Byron JonesDefensive TackleTulsa
^[a] In an attempt to draft QB Bernie Kosar, Minnesota traded their 1st round selection (3rd overall) and a provisional 2nd round selection (30th overall)[c] to Houston to move up 1 spot to the Oilers 2nd overall position on April 9, 1985.
^[b] When QB Bernie Kosar did not declare for the draft and instead controversially waited for the supplemental draft, Minnesota traded the 2nd overall pick to Atlanta for their 1st round selection (4th overall) and 3rd round selection (60th overall).
^[c] As part of the initial trade between the Vikings and Oilers[a], the Vikings agreed to not draft DE Ray Childress or trade the pick to a team that would draft Childress. Houston drafted Childress with the 3rd overall pick and this provisional selection was returned to Minnesota.
^[d] San Diego traded their 3rd round selection (66th overall) to Minnesota for CB John Turner.
^[e] The Rams traded their 4th round selection (106th overall) to Minnesota for QB Steve Dils.
^[f] The Raiders traded their 6th round selection (164th overall) and 1986 2nd round selection to Minnesota for LB Brad Van Pelt.
^[g] Minnesota traded their 7th round selection (171st overall) to Green Bay for PK Jan Stenerud.

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Final score Team record
1 September 8, 1985 San Francisco 49ers W 28–21 1–0 Metrodome
57,375
2 September 15, 1985 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–16 2–0 Tampa Stadium
46,188
3 September 19, 1985 Chicago Bears L 24–33 2–1 Metrodome
61,242
4 September 29, 1985 at Buffalo Bills W 27–20 3–1 Rich Stadium
45,667
5 October 6, 1985 at Los Angeles Rams L 10–13 3–2 Anaheim Stadium
61,139
6 October 13, 1985 at Green Bay Packers L 17–20 3–3 Milwaukee County Stadium
54,674
7 October 20, 1985 San Diego Chargers W 21–17 4–3 Metrodome
61,670
8 October 27, 1985 at Chicago Bears L 9–27 4–4 Soldier Field
63,815
9 November 3, 1985 Detroit Lions W 16–13 5–4 Metrodome
58,012
10 November 10, 1985 Green Bay Packers L 17–27 5–5 Metrodome
59,970
11 November 17, 1985 at Detroit Lions L 21–41 5–6 Silverdome
54,647
12 November 24, 1985 New Orleans Saints L 23–30 5–7 Metrodome
54,117
13 December 1, 1985 at Philadelphia Eagles W 28–23 6–7 Veterans Stadium
54,688
14 December 8, 1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 26–7 7–7 Metrodome
51,593
15 December 15, 1985 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–14 7–8 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium
14,167
16 December 22, 1985 Philadelphia Eagles L 35–37 7–9 Metrodome
49,722

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Chicago Bears(1) 15 1 0 .938 8–0 12–0 456 198 W3
Green Bay Packers 8 8 0 .500 6–2 8–4 337 355 W2
Minnesota Vikings 7 9 0 .438 3–5 5–9 346 359 L2
Detroit Lions 7 9 0 .438 2–6 5–7 307 366 L3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 14 0 .125 1–7 2–10 294 448 L4

Personnel

Staff

1985 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front office
  • President – Max Winter
  • General Manager – Mike Lynn

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Tom Batta

[3]

Roster

1985 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
Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Statistics

Team leaders

Category Player(s) Value
Passing Yards Tommy Kramer 3,522
Passing Touchdowns Tommy Kramer 19
Rushing Yards Darrin Nelson 893
Rushing Touchdowns Ted Brown 7
Receiving Yards Anthony Carter 821
Receiving Touchdowns Anthony Carter 8
Points Jan Stenerud 86
Kickoff Return Yards George "Buster" Rhymes 1,345
Punt Return Yards Darrin Nelson 133
Tackles Chris Doleman 113
Sacks Keith Millard 11.0
Interceptions John Turner 5

League rankings

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 28)
Passing Offense 3,635 Yards 227.2 YPG 7th
Rushing Offense 1,516 Yards 94.8 YPG 27th
Total Offense 5,151 Yards 321.9 YPG 16th
Passing Defense 3,241 Yards 202.6 YPG 15th
Rushing Defense 2,223 Yards 138.9 YPG 22nd
Total Defense 5,464 Yards 341.5 YPG 16th

25 year team

The team recognized an all-time team in 1985 as part of the celebration of the 25th season VIKINGS 25TH SEASON ALL-TIME TEAM 1961–85

References

  1. "1985 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "1985 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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