How Many Super Bowls Have The Vikings Won?

The Super Bowl is used to determine the overall champion of the NFL each season, and it has done so every year since 1967. While there have been lots of different teams to take home the Lombardi Trophy over the years, other teams have been unable to do so. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings have never won a Super Bowl. This piece will discuss the Vikings’ four Super Bowl defeats (all in a span of eight years) in greater detail.

Super Bowl IV (1969-1970)

The first Super Bowl appearance for the Vikings came in Super Bowl IV in 1970 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the final Super Bowl before the NFL merged with the American Football League (AFL), and thus the game still pitted the NFL winner against the AFL winner. The Vikings represented the NFL, and the AFL champion was the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs controlled the game throughout, taking a 16-0 lead into halftime and eventually winning by a final score of 23-7. Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson won the game’s MVP award, throwing for 142 yards and one touchdown on 12 of 17 completed passes.

Super Bowl VIII (1973-1974)

Four years after their first defeat, the Vikings made it back to the big game for the second time. At this point, the AFL and NFL had merged, and now the Super Bowl was between the National Football Conference (NFC) Champion and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion. The Vikings were presenting the NFC, and they faced off with the AFC Champion Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII in Houston, Texas. Once again, the Vikings were never really in the game, and the Dolphins were in control throughout. They led 17-0 at halftime and went on to win 24-7. Miami running back Larry Csonka was named the game’s MVP, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Csonka was the first running back to win the Super Bowl MVP Award.

Super Bowl IX (1974-1975)

The following season, the Vikings made it back to the Super Bowl for the third time and second straight year. At Super Bowl IX in New Orleans, the NFC Champion Vikings met the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In an extremely defensive battle, the Steelers led 2-0 at halftime thanks to a second-quarter safety, and it was 9-0 after three quarters. Both teams managed points in the fourth quarter, but it was the Steelers who eventually won the game 16-6. Steelers running back Franco Harris became the second straight running back to win Super Bowl MVP, running for 158 yards and one touchdown. 

Super Bowl XI (1976-1977)

The Vikings’ fourth and most recent Super Bowl appearance came in 1977 at Super Bowl XI. That year, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Vikings met the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders. For the third time in four appearances, the Vikings never really had much of a chance in the game. The Raiders led 16-0 at halftime, 19-7 after three quarters, and eventually won 32-14. Raiders wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff recorded four catches for 79 yards and was named the game’s MVP.

FAQ