| Year: | 2001 |
| Team: | Minnesota Vikings |
| Coach: | Dennis Green (Weeks 1–16) Mike Tice (Week 17) |
| Owner: | Red McCombs |
| General Manager: | Dennis Green |
| Stadium: | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Record: | 5–11 |
| Division Place: | 4th NFC Central |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | C Matt Birk TE Byron Chamberlain |
| Uniform: | Vikings 2001.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Vikings seasons |
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.
| Additions | Subtractions | |
|---|---|---|
| WR Jake Reed (Saints) | LB Dwayne Rudd (Browns) | |
| TE Byron Chamberlain (Broncos) | DT John Randle (Seahawks) | |
| WR Matthew Hatchette (Jets) |
See main article: 2001 NFL draft.
| Pro Bowler |
| 2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | ||
| Round | Selection | |||||
| 27 | bgcolor=lightsteelblue | |||||
| 2 | 57 | |||||
| 3 | 69 | From Patriots | ||||
| 86 | Traded to the New England Patriots | |||||
| 4 | 119 | Traded to the New England Patriots | ||||
| 130 | Compensatory pick | |||||
| 131 | Compensatory pick | |||||
| 5 | 157 | |||||
| 6 | 189 | Carey Scott | ||||
| 7 | 225 | Brian Crawford | ||||
| Brian Russell | Safety | San Diego State |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11 | at New Orleans Saints | W 28–21 | 1–0 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 3–19 | 5–11 | PSINet Stadium | 69,465 | Recap | ||
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=150px style="" | Player(s) | width=75px style="" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 2,612 | ||||
| Passing touchdowns | 14 | ||||
| Rushing yards | 682 | ||||
| Rushing touchdowns | 5 | ||||
| Receiving yards | 1,233 | ||||
| Receiving touchdowns | 10 | ||||
| Points | 74 | ||||
| Kickoff return yards | 1,012 | ||||
| Punt return yards | Nate Jacquet | 219 | |||
| Tackles | 98 | ||||
| Sacks | 6 | ||||
| Interceptions | 2 | ||||
| Forced fumbles | 3 |
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=100px style="" | Total yards | width=110px style="" | Yards per game | width=80px style="" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |