2001 Minnesota Vikings season

2001 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach	Dennis Green (15 games) Mike Tice (1 game)
Owner	Red McCombs
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	5–11
Division place	4th NFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	2 TE Byron Chamberlain (bench) C Matt Birk

The 2001 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League.

The season began with the Vikings trying to improve on their 11-5 record from last year, however, adversity struck when offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke in training camp in Mankato, Minnesota.

The season started off with a 24–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers. 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 six, and a week ten victory over the Giants in which Randy Moss pulled in 10 receptions for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns leading to a 28–16 victory. Despite having a 12th ranked offense, the Vikings finished 5–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

After the disappointing season, the Vikings fired Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing force in the Viking fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, losing to the Ravens.

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.

Offseason

2001 Draft

=Pro Bowler

2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order			Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Choice	Overall
1	27	27	Michael Bennett	Running Back	Wisconsin
2	26	27	Willie Howard	Defensive end	Stanford
3	7	69	Eric Kelly	Cornerback	Kentucky	from Patriots^[a]
	24	86	Traded to the New England Patriots^[a]
4	24	119	Traded to the New England Patriots^[a]
	35	130	Shawn Worthen	Defensive tackle	Texas Christian	Compensatory pick^[b]
	36	131	Cedric James	Wide receiver	Texas Christian	Compensatory pick^[b]
5	26	118	Patrick Chukwurah	Linebacker	Wyoming
6	26	189	Carey Scott	Cornerback	Kentucky State
7	25	225	Brian Crawford	Defensive Tackle	Western Oregon

^{^[a]} Minnesota traded their 3rd round selection (86th overall) and 4th round selection (119th overall) to New England to move up 17 spots to the 69th overall selection and make this pick.

^{^[b]} Minnesota was awarded two compensatory pick in the 4th round for the loss of free agents Jeff Christy, Duane Clemons, Jeff George, and Jimmy Hitchcock in the 2000 offseason.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Kickoff (CT)	Opponent	Results		Venue	TV	NFL Recap	Attendance
				Final score	Team record
1	September 9	12:00 pm	Carolina Panthers	L 13–24	0–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	FOX	Recap	64,108
2	September 23	12:00 pm	at Chicago Bears	L 10–17	0–2	Soldier Field	FOX	Recap	66,944
3	September 30	12:00 pm	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 31–26	1–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	FOX	Recap	64,105
4	October 7	12:00 pm	at New Orleans Saints	L 15–28	1–3	Louisiana Superdome	FOX	Recap	70,020
5	October 14	12:00 pm	Detroit Lions	W 31–26	2–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	FOX	Recap	64,048
6	October 21	3:00 pm	Green Bay Packers	W 35–13	3–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	FOX	Recap	64,165
7	October 28	12:00 pm	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 14–41	3–4	Raymond James Stadium	FOX	Recap	65,558
8	Bye week
9	November 11	3:00 pm	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 17–48	3–5	Veterans Stadium	FOX	Recap	65,638
10	November 19	8:00 pm	New York Giants	W 28–16	4–5	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	ABC	Recap	64,283
11	November 25	7:30 pm	Chicago Bears	L 6–13	4–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	ESPN	Recap	64,214
12	December 2	12:00 pm	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 16–21	4–7	Heinz Field	FOX	Recap	62,661
13	December 9	12:00 pm	Tennessee Titans	W 42–24	5–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	CBS	Recap	64,271
14	December 16	12:00 pm	at Detroit Lions	L 24–27	5–8	Pontiac Silverdome	FOX	Recap	72,190
15	December 23	12:00 pm	Jacksonville Jaguars	L 3–33	5–9	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	CBS	Recap	64,150
16	December 30	12:00 pm	at Green Bay Packers	L 13–24	5–10	Lambeau Field	FOX	Recap	59,870
17	January 7	8:00 pm	at Baltimore Ravens	L 3–19	5–11	M&T Bank Stadium	ABC	Recap	69,465
Note: Team names in bold indicate that the game indicated is a Vikings home game.

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
^(2) Chicago Bears	13	3	0	.813	338	203	W4
^(3) Green Bay Packers	12	4	0	.750	390	266	W3
^(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers	9	7	0	.563	324	280	L1
Minnesota Vikings	5	11	0	.313	290	390	L4
Detroit Lions	2	14	0	.125	270	424	W1

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing Yards	Daunte Culpepper	2,612
Passing Touchdowns	Daunte Culpepper	14
Rushing Yards	Michael Bennett	682
Rushing Touchdowns	Daunte Culpepper	5
Receiving Yards	Randy Moss	1,233
Receiving Touchdowns	Randy Moss	10
Points	Gary Anderson	74
Kickoff Return Yards	Nate Jacquet	1,012
Punt Return Yards	Nate Jacquet	219
Tackles	Kailee Wong	98
Sacks	Chris Hovan	6
Interceptions	Robert Griffith Eric Kelly	2
Forced Fumbles	Patrick Chukwurah	3

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 31)
Passing Offense	3,576 Yards	223.5 YPG	7th
Rushing Offense	1,609 Yards	100.6 YPG	25th
Total Offense	5,185 Yards	324.1 YPG	12th
Passing Defense	3,367 Yards	210.4 YPG	18th
Rushing Defense	2,299 Yards	143.7 YPG	30th
Total Defense	5,666 Yards	354.1 YPG	27th

Personnel

Staff

2001 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office Owner – Red McCombs President – Gary Woods Vice President of Football Administration – Rob Brzezinski Head Coaches Head Coach – Dennis Green Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs – Willie Shaw Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line – Mike Tice Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Sherman Lewis Quarterbacks – Alex Wood Running Backs – Carl Hargrave Wide Receivers – Charlie Baggett Tight Ends – John Tice Assistant Offensive Line/Quality Control – Dean Dalton			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Emmitt Thomas Defensive Line – Brian Baker Inside Linebackers – Richard Solomon Outside Linebackers – Chuck Knox, Jr. Defensive Assistant – Trent Walters Special Teams Coaches Special Teams Coordinator – Gary Zauner Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

^[1]

Final roster

2001 Minnesota Vikings final roster
	Quarterbacks  8 Todd Bouman 11 Daunte Culpepper  3 Spergon Wynn Running backs 23 Michael Bennett 34 Doug Chapman 33 Harold Morrow FB 30 Travis Prentice Wide receivers 80 Cris Carter 83 Nate Jacquet 84 Randy Moss 86 Jake Reed (American football) 81 Chris Walsh 82 Troy Walters Tight ends 87 Byron Chamberlain 85 Andrew Jordan 40 Jim Kleinsasser		Offensive linemen 74 Brad Badger T 78 Matt Birk C 65 Calvin Collins G 71 David Dixon G 61 Lewis Kelly G 63 Corbin Lacina G 62 Everett Lindsay T 76 Chris Liwienski T 60 Cory Withrow C Defensive linemen 93 Stalin Colinet DE 92 Winfield Garnett DT 99 Chris Hovan DT 51 Lance Johnstone DE 98 Fred Robbins DT 97 Talance Sawyer DE 95 Shawn Worthen DT		Linebackers 50 Patrick Chukwurah OLB 55 Lemanski Hall OLB 58 Ed McDaniel OLB 94 Pete Monty OLB 96 Andre O'Neal OLB 54 Antonio Wilson OLB 52 Kailee Wong MLB 59 Fearon Wright OLB Defensive backs 21 Dale Carter CB 22 Tyrone Carter FS 25 Eric Kelly CB 24 Robert Griffith SS 31 Don Morgan CB 29 Wasswa Serwanga CB 28 Robert Tate CB 42 Orlando Thomas FS 20 Kenny Wright CB Special teams  1 Gary Anderson K 12 Lee Johnson P 43 Brody Liddiard LS		Reserve lists 17 Mitch Berger P (IR) -- Michael Boireau DE (IR) 90 Jeff Hazuga DE (IR) 91 Willie Howard DE (IR) 89 Cedric James WR 41 Carey Scott CB Practice squad 48 Matt Cercone TE 15 Kenny Clark WR 49 Jeff Kostrewa TE 38 Mesene Louisdor CB 69 Mike Malano G -- DeWayne Miles FB 27 Brian Russell FS Rookies in italics 53 Active, 6 Inactive, 7 Practice squad

References

1. 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Retrieved 2010-03-06.