1990 Minnesota Vikings season

1990 Minnesota Vikings season
General manager	Mike Lynn
Head coach	Jerry Burns
Home field	Metrodome
Results
Record	6–10
Division place	5th NFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify

The 1990 Minnesota Vikings season was the 30th year season for the Minnesota Vikings and the 71st regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of six wins and ten losses. After beginning the season 1–1, the Vikings dropped their next five games and found themselves at 1–6. However, they caught fire mid-season with a five-game winning streak to even their record at 6–6 (including a 41–13 thumping of the eventual NFC Central champion Chicago Bears in Week 12). While being in the thick of the wild card race, the Vikings suddenly fell apart with a four-game losing streak to finish at 6–10.

Notable additions to the team this season were wide receiver Cris Carter and undrafted defensive lineman John Randle, both of whom would go on to have Hall of Fame careers.

Injuries to the defense and a lackluster season from Herschel Walker were the story of the team's season.

Offseason

1990 Draft

Main article: 1990 NFL draft

Pro Bowler

1990 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order			Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Choice	Overall
1	21	21	Traded to the Dallas Cowboys
2	22	47	Traded to the Dallas Cowboys
3	1	54	Mike Jones	Tight end	Texas A&M	from Cowboys
	21	74	Marion Hobby	Defensive end	Tennessee
4	23	104	Alonzo Hampton	Defensive back	Pittsburgh
5	7	116	Reggie Thornton	Wide receiver	Bowling Green State	from Chargers via Cowboys
	22	131	Cedric Smith	Fullback	Florida
6	21	158	Traded to the Dallas Cowboys
7	23	188	John Levelis	Linebacker	C. W. Post
8	21	214	Craig Schlichting	Defensive end	Wyoming
9	21	241	Terry Allen	Running back	Clemson
10	1	249	Pat Newman	Wide receiver	Utah State	from Cowboys
	23	271	Donald Smith	Defensive back	Liberty
11	22	298	Traded to the Los Angeles Raiders
12	20	324	Ron Goetz	Linebacker	Minnesota

^{^[a]} These picks were involved in the Herschel Walker trade on October 12, 1989.

^{^[b]} During the 1989 Draft, the Raiders traded their 12th round selection (335th overall) to Minnesota for their 11th round selection in the 1990 draft.

Undrafted free agents

1990 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Pat Eilers	Safety	Notre Dame
John Randle	Defensive tackle	Texas A&M–Kingsville

Personnel

Staff

1990 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr. General Manager – Mike Lynn Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Marc Trestman Head coaches Head Coach – Jerry Burns Assistant Head Coach/Offense – Tom Moore Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Bob Schnelker Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Passing Game – Dick Rehbein Running Backs – John Brunner Tight Ends – Tom Batta Offensive Line – John Michels

Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Floyd Peters Defensive Line – Paul Wiggin Linebackers – Maxie Baughan Defensive Backs – Jerry Brown Special teams coaches Special Teams – Tom Batta

Final roster

1990 Minnesota Vikings final roster

	Quarterbacks 16 Rich Gannon 12 Sean Salisbury Running backs 46 Alfred Anderson FB 33 Jessie Clark 42 D. J. Dozier 30 Cedric Smith FB 34 Herschel Walker KR Wide receivers 81 Anthony Carter 80 Cris Carter 89 Ira Hillary 84 Hassan Jones 87 Leo Lewis PR Tight ends 82 Mike L. Jones 83 Steve Jordan 85 Brent Novoselsky		Offensive linemen 68 Paul Blair T 62 Chris Foote C 74 Brian Habib G 76 Tim Irwin T 69 Todd Kalis G 63 Kirk Lowdermilk C 64 Randall McDaniel G 60 Adam Schreiber G 73 Craig Wolfley G 65 Gary Zimmerman T Defensive linemen 71 Ken Clarke DT 56 Chris Doleman DE 91 Willie Fears DE 99 Al Noga DE 93 John Randle DE 97 Henry Thomas DT		Linebackers 54 Walker Lee Ashley ILB 50 Ray Berry MLB 59 Mark Dusbabek OLB 57 Mike Merriweather OLB 55 Scott Studwell MLB 58 Jimmy Williams OLB Defensive backs 47 Joey Browner SS 44 Michael Brim CB 24 Pat Eilers CB 29 Darrell Fullington FS 25 Alonzo Hampton CB 39 Carl Lee CB 26 Audray McMillian CB 48 Reggie Rutland CB 27 Ken Stills CB Special teams 18 Harry Newsome P  7 Fuad Reveiz K		Reserve lists 31 Rick Fenney FB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 77 Dave Huffman G (IRTooltip Injured reserve)  4 Donald Igwebuike K (Left Squad) 75 Keith Millard DT (IRTooltip Injured reserve) -- Pat Newman WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 36 Allen Rice RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 94 Thomas Strauthers DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 11 Wade Wilson QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad 52 William Kirksey LB Rookies in italics 48 active, 8 inactive, 1 practice squad

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance [1]
1	August 11	New Orleans Saints	L 10–13	0–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	48,154
2	August 19	at Cleveland Browns	W 23–20	1–1	Cleveland Stadium	60,989
3	August 26	Houston Oilers	W 22–21	2–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	46,191
4	August 31	at Miami Dolphins	W 20–17	3–1	Joe Robbie Stadium	44,689

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 9	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 24–21	0–1	Arrowhead Stadium	68,363
2	September 16	New Orleans Saints	W 32–3	1–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	56,272
3	September 23	at Chicago Bears	L 19–16	1–2	Soldier Field	65,420
4	September 30	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 23–20 (OT)	1–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	54,462
5	October 7	Detroit Lions	L 34–27	1–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	57,586
6	October 15	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 32–24	1–5	Veterans Stadium	66,296
7	Bye
8	October 28	at Green Bay Packers	L 24–10	1–6	Milwaukee County Stadium	55,125
9	November 4	Denver Broncos	W 27–22	2–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	57,331
10	November 11	at Detroit Lions	W 17–7	3–6	Silverdome	68,264
11	November 18	at Seattle Seahawks	W 24–21	4–6	Kingdome	59,735
12	November 25	Chicago Bears	W 41–13	5–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	58,866
13	December 2	Green Bay Packers	W 23–7	6–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	62,058
14	December 9	at New York Giants	L 23–15	6–7	Giants Stadium	76,121
15	December 16	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 26–13	6–8	Tampa Stadium	47,272
16	December 22	Los Angeles Raiders	L 28–24	6–9	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	53,899
17	December 30	San Francisco 49ers	L 20–17	6–10	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	51,590

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(3) Chicago Bears	11	5	0	.688	6–2	9–3	348	280	L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	10	0	.375	5–3	6–8	264	367	L2
Detroit Lions	6	10	0	.375	3–5	5–7	373	413	L1
Green Bay Packers	6	10	0	.375	3–5	5–7	271	347	L5
Minnesota Vikings	6	10	0	.375	3–5	4–8	351	326	L4

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Rich Gannon	2,278
Passing touchdowns	Rich Gannon	16
Rushing yards	Herschel Walker	770
Rushing touchdowns	Herschel Walker	5
Receiving yards	Anthony Carter	1,008
Receiving touchdowns	Anthony Carter	8
Points	Donald Igwebuike	61
Kickoff return yards	Herschel Walker	966
Punt return yards	Leo Lewis	180
Tackles	Henry Thomas	109
Sacks	Chris Doleman	11.0
Interceptions	Joey Browner	7
Forced fumbles	Chris Doleman	4

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 28)
Passing offense	3,167	197.9	11th
Rushing offense	1,867	116.7	15th
Total offense	5,034	314.6	12th
Passing defense	2,643	165.2	3rd
Rushing defense	2,074	129.6	21st
Total defense	4,717	294.8	13th

Awards and honors

• Randall McDaniel, NFC Pro Bowl selection
• Randall McDaniel, All-Pro selection by Associated Press
• Randall McDaniel, All-NFC selection by UPI