Today’s piece highlights a few reasons why the Minnesota Vikings Franchise is the coolest in the NFL. You can call it opinion, but opinion and fact are not always mutually exclusive. I love this franchise and can’t imagine rooting for another team. Our team is so freakin’ cool it hurts. Anyway, here we go!
US Bank Stadium
As fans, we are lucky that we get to attend home games at the coolest stadium in the entire world. I mean, sure there could be a debate, but it would be hard to argue against the fact that US Bank stadium is incredibly freaking cool! So cool that other stadiums are trying to copy it. Oh yes, don’t forget that it is shaped like a crystal Viking ship. It is the fortress that shields us from the harsh Minnesota winters. There is no comparison to the atmosphere of this incredible place. I’m no genius, so I can’t describe the aesthetic of the stadium quite like an architect:
“The dramatically projecting western end of the stadium has drawn comparisons to the prow of a Viking ship, but HKS architect John Hutchings, AIA, one of the principals in charge of the project, says such references are incidental. The jagged rocks that formed the nearby cataract known as St. Anthony Falls and the ice shards that pile up on the edges of Minnesota lakes as they freeze, thaw, and refreeze in winter were the real inspirations for the structure. “Plus, it felt like Minnesota had the right cultural environment to appreciate modern architecture,” Hutchings says of the building, which is sheathed in enormous sheets of high-performance glass and acres of dark-gray zinc panels.” – https://www.aia-mn.org/us-bank-stadium
Not only do we have a culturally significant artifact in the heart of Minneapolis, but we know it too. Apart from the stadium, the game day experience is next level as well. When the team comes out of the tunnel, with the lighting looking like a scene featuring the Ice King in Game of Thrones, the electricity builds. You begin to feel the history and the heart of our franchise through the fans. To top it off, there is a dragon ship that BREATHES FIRE!!! I mean COME ON! Does it get any cooler than that?
We know how magical the SKOL chant is. Nothing will get you more fired up or give you goosebumps quite like chanting to Odin with 70,000 strong. From “Let’s Go Crazy” to “For Whom the Bell Tolls” to “Skol Song,” we also have one of the coolest musical experiences in the NFL. The soul of the Metrodome lives within our football Mecca and it shows. Minnesota is still known as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL and we have a true home field advantage. Vikings players love playing there and all opponents who come in respect the atmosphere. We all know what happens when you taunt the Vikings faithful at US Bank stadium. If you don’t know, just ask human tax audit Sean Peyton . You perform the skol chant in vain, you will suffer the consequences!
Bruhr Brrrrrrrrrhh! That’s another Vikings’ FIRST DOWN!
We are so spoiled to have such awesome radio and gameday crews. Paul Allen is the man, and he has such a keen ability to convey the feelings we have as Vikings fan. He is so good at his job, and he has an awesome team to lean on. His color commentator Pete Bercich sees the little things and does a beautiful job of painting a picture for the listening audience. Ben Leber, from my native South Dakota, is a fan favorite for sure. He provides amazing post-game analysis and really brings his experience from the player’s perspective. I am never worried about missing a game on TV as long as I am in my car within distance of the KFAN signal.
The history of the team is crazy as well. I know I haven’t been around as long as some of you reading this, but I appreciate the perspective that you provide. Since the inception of the franchise, the nickname Vikings really captures the essence of the team. Such a simple concept of “an aggressive person with the will to win” that represented “the Nordic tradition in the Midwest” is perfect. I just connected a couple of dots brushing up about Vikings history on the team’s official website. In our team’s first official regular season game in history, Fran Tarkenton helped shock the world with a 37-13 upset of the Chicago Bears, throwing for a cool 250 yards and 4 touchdowns. We start the McCarthy regime week one against the Chicago Bears. Can J.J. have an historic first official start in a Vikings uniform? Yes, I believe he can. I have talked about my experiences with the team at length multiple times, but we as fans, we are as die hard as it gets.
The Fans
As much grief as we get for never winning a Super Bowl, I think we have some of the most self-aware and knowledgeable fans in the NFL. Seriously, no fans of any other team have more of a reason to have a chip on their shoulders when compared to Vikings fans. We cheer for one of the most historic and successful franchises in the history of the league. We always get disappointed because we always have high expectations. With the highest all-time winning percentage of any team that has never won a Super Bowl, we as fans stick by our team.
It’s not like the Vikings are historically bad or even average. They, more often than not, put a team out onto the field that can compete and is a threat to win any game. We are resilient as a fan base in a way that few can understand. Can you imagine how EASY it would be to be a New England fan born in the early 90s? Or a Ravens fan? Getting 2 Super Bowls in your first 20 years in the league? Talk about lucky. Most Vikings fans I meet, the serious ones anyway, are well read and very knowledgeable. As far as toxicity goes, I think our fan base ranks toward the bottom of the league. Just from my experience in the few months I’ve been writing for the Daily Norseman, I have seen nothing but love and support from this community. We barely know each other but we are all connected by the coolest franchise in the NFL.
KO
The last thing I’ll cover in this piece is our historically awesome coaches. With names, like Bud Grant, Denny Green, Mike Tice (JUST KIDDING), and our current leader Kevin O’Connell, we have had some pretty badass coaches in our history. I believe in KO and the outlook of this team going forward. Last season may have been one of the most magical that I’ve seen in my lifetime, especially in regard to the camaraderie shared by the locker room. Once again, we rallied around a career journey man who took us on one hell of a ride, before it came off the rails. This upcoming season, however, will be different.
For the first time since….. pretty much ever, we have a true young potential franchise quarterback to lead us into the future. Our rewards in Valhalla are due, our Super Bowl victory is coming, and J.J. will be the one to take us there, especially with the help of a great team around him. The last first round quarterback we drafted was Teddy Bridgewater, bless his heart. The time before that it was Christian Ponder. Ponder had prime AP and still couldn’t make a career out of his time with the NFL. The future is now, the future is bright. In a few weeks, we will get to see what this franchise is really made of. If this team is what I think and hope it is, we will see it immediately in Week 1 when we confidently and decisively handle the Chicago Bears.
Concluding with a Rant
The Minnesota Vikings are the coolest franchise in all of the NFL, maybe in all of professional sports. From the uniqueness of our mascot, the links to the area’s Nordic traditions, the incredible players we have gotten to cheer for, to the unity that we all feel as fans, we have it all (except for a Lombardi trophy). The NFL is starting to take notice, especially considering the amount of prime time and overseas games. For those conspiracy theorists out there, the Vikings are extremely marketable right now. In a league that is all about publicity, being the team that the casual fan can root for, a team that features Justin Jefferson who is the best player in the league with the demeanor of a good role model, it would benefit Mr. Goodell’s shareholders if the Vikings became Super Bowl champions.
The Chiefs’ dynasty is over, it’s kaput. Everyone, except Eagles fans, hates the Eagles. LA has won too many championships lately, as a city. 2025 is the perfect season for the Vikings to go into the playoffs as an underrated #2 seed with an overrated #1 seed, which I am going to predict right now. I have long believed that the year we host the NFC Championship game is the year we make a run for the Super Bowl. Random bold prediction: The #2 seeded Vikings beat a surprising Panthers team in the Wild Card game, which would be Thielen’s return to U.S. Bank stadium/retirement game. They go on to beat either the Bucs or Seahawks in the Divisional Round. Here’s where it gets good. They will HOST the Lions in the Championship game, after Detroit knocks off the overachieving #1 seed Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round. Obviously, we beat the Lions and take on Cincinnati in the Super Bowl. I just pulled this prediction from nowhere with no thoughts before writing it. Lock it up! Let’s have fun with it, I know I sure will. Life is short and our team is awesome, and we are going to be awesome for an incredibly long time! SKOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!
Until next time,
- Jesse M