Founded in 1960, the Minnesota Vikings have had ten head coaches. Each one has contributed in some way to shaping the team’s identity and culture, but a select few have left an unmistakable mark on the franchise. These standout coaches have left a lasting legacy with memorable playoff runs, record-setting seasons, and unforgettable moments that remain a big part of Vikings history.
This article highlights the most successful Vikings coaches of all time, exploring their stats, achievements, records, and overall impact. But before we dive right in, check out the Wonderland live and other exciting titles here if you’re looking for some fun off the field.
Bud Grant
Any true Vikings fan will admit that Bud Grant is the franchise’s most successful coach of all time. He is also the team’s longest-serving head coach, leading it from 1967 to 1983 and returning for one final season in 1985. Over 18 seasons, Grant oversaw 243 regular-season games, finishing with a record of 158 wins, 96 losses, and five ties. When you include the postseason, his overall record stands at 161 wins and 99 losses, which makes him one of the most successful coaches in NFL history.
Under Grant’s leadership, the Vikings won 11 division titles, three NFC Championships, and one NFL Championship, while making four Super Bowl appearances (IV, VIII, IX, and XI). Although they never won a Super Bowl during his tenure, the consistency and ability to keep his team among the league’s elite for nearly two decades remain unmatched in franchise history.
Beyond his success in Minnesota, Grant also made an impact in Canada. Before becoming an NFL coach, he was already a legend in Canada as the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he won four Grey Cups in ten seasons. If you add that to his NFL victories, he earned a total of 286 professional coaching wins, which makes him the fifth coach with the most wins in professional football history.
Dennis Green
Dennis Green is another coach who holds a special place in the history of the Minnesota Vikings. Taking charge in 1992, Green led the Vikings and remained at the helm until 2001. He was the fifth head coach in the franchise’s history and the second-longest-tenured coach the team has ever had.
During his ten-season tenure, Green oversaw 159 games and posted an impressive 97-62 regular-season record. That record made him one of the winningest coaches of the 1990s. Under his guidance, the Vikings reached the playoffs eight times in nine years, which was a remarkable feat, especially given that he did it with seven different starting quarterbacks during that stretch. His only losing season with the team was in 2001, which ultimately led to the end of his tenure in Minnesota.
Green’s most memorable time with the Vikings was in 1998. His team delivered a 15-1 record, the most points scored in a single NFL season at the time. That squad, filled with stars like Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Randall Cunningham, is still remembered as one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. It was just quite unfortunate that they didn’t win a Super Bowl.
Mike Zimmer
After stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Zimmer was appointed head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in January 2014. Zimmer brought with him a wealth of defensive expertise, and he quickly began to reshape the Vikings’ identity. In his debut season, he finished with a 7-9 record, which was a solid improvement from the team’s 5-10-1 record in 2013. It was also the best record for a first-year Vikings coach since Dennis Green in 1992.
The following year, Zimmer guided Minnesota to an impressive 11-5 record. He won the NFC North title that year to end Green Bay’s four-year divisional dominance. Unfortunately, the season ended in a tense playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 2017 season was another outstanding campaign under Zimmer’s leadership. The Vikings finished with a 13-3 record, one of the best in franchise history, and ultimately advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, they fell again, this time to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Mike Zimmer spent eight seasons with the Vikings in total. During this period, he coached 134 regular-season games, registering a 74-59-1 record, along with a 2-3 postseason record.
Jerry Burns
After serving as Vikings offensive coordinator for nearly two decades, Burns finally got his chance to lead the team in 1986, becoming the franchise’s fourth head coach. Before stepping into that role, he had already built a remarkable résumé. He served as an assistant under Vince Lombardi with the Green Bay Packers, helping them win Super Bowls I and II. Later, he spent 17 seasons (1968-1985) as Minnesota’s offensive mastermind under Bud Grant.
In his six seasons in charge (1986–1991), Burns guided the Vikings through 95 regular-season games, compiling a record of 52-43, along with a 3-3 postseason record. Although he was known for his offensive acumen, his tenure was actually defined by tough, relentless defences. His 1988 and 1989 squads finished with 10-6 and 11-5 records, respectively. His final two seasons (1990-1991) were, however, less successful, with records of 6-10 and 8-8, respectively.
Brad Childress
Brad Childress’s five-season tenure is one of the more dramatic chapters in the franchise’s history. Hired in January 2006 as the seventh head coach in team history, he brought with him a reputation as a disciplined strategist, having previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles during their dominant early-2000s run under Andy Reid.
Childress inherited a team that had finished 9-7 the previous year, but his first season proved challenging as the Vikings struggled to a 6-10 record in 2006. However, progress came gradually. In 2007, the team improved to 8-8, narrowly missing the playoffs, and in 2008, they went 10-6. They won the NFC North title that season, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2004.
The next year was also quite outstanding. Childress guided the team to an impressive 12-4 record and to their second straight division title. The team even came agonizingly close to a Super Bowl berth, as they fell in overtime to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game.
Overall, Childress oversaw 75 regular-season games, with a 39-35 record, and a 1-2 postseason record. He was relieved of his duties on November 22, 2010, following a 31-3 home loss to the Green Bay Packers, which dropped the team to 3–7.
Conclusion
Each of these head coaches left a distinct mark that shaped the Vikings’ identity. From building winning cultures to developing star players and leading unforgettable playoff runs, their influence runs deep in the franchise’s history, and their legacies continue to inspire both players and fans alike.
