The 2006 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 46th in the National Football League (NFL). Under new head coach Brad Childress, the team finished with a 6–10 record; however, they led the league in rushing defense, surrendering only 985 rushing yards; they are one of only two franchises in NFL history to allow fewer than 1,000 rushing yards in a 16-game season (the other was the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2000).
Offseason On January 6, 2006, the Vikings hired Brad Childress to take over from Mike Tice as head coach, making them the first team to hire a new head coach during the 2006 offseason. Childress previously held the quarterbacks coach position with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2002, and was the offensive coordinator from 2002 to 2005; he was also offensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1993 to 1999 under Barry Alvarez.
2006 draft
Pro Bowler
2006 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Contract Notes Round Selection 1 17 Chad Greenway Linebacker Iowa 5 years 2 48 Cedric Griffin Cornerback Texas 4 years 51 Ryan Cook Center New Mexico 4 years From Dolphins 64 Tarvaris Jackson Quarterback Alabama State 4 years From Steelers 3 83 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers 95 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers From Seahawks 4 115 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 127 Ray Edwards Defensive end Purdue 4 years From Colts, via Eagles 5 149 Greg Blue Safety Georgia 4 years 6 185 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 7 227 Traded to the San Diego Chargers Notes:
Transactions + Re-signed Player Position Status Contract Bryant McKinnie OT Free agent 7 years ($48.5 million) E.J. Henderson LB Free agent 5 years ($25 million) Kevin Williams DT Free agent 7 years ($50 million) Cullen Loeffler LS Free agent Jeff Dugan FB Free agent 5 years ($4.5 million)
+AdditionsPlayerPositionStatus (previous team)ContractBen LeberLBFree agent (SD)5 years ($20 million)Ryan LongwellKFree agent (GB)5 years ($10 million)Chester TaylorRBFree agent (BAL)4 years ($14.1 million)Steve HutchinsonGRestricted (SEA)7 years ($49 million)Tony RichardsonFBUnrestricted (KC)2 years ($2.5 million)Tank WilliamsSSFree agent (TEN)1 year ($900,000)Jason WhittleGFree agent (NYG)1 year ($695,000)Ronyell WhitakerCBFree agent (TB)Dwight SmithFSFree agent (NO)Artis HicksGTrade (PHI)Billy McMullenWRTrade (PHI)Artose PinnerRBClaimed off waivers (DET)Ross KolodziejDTFree agent (ARI)Jason GlennLBFree agent (NYJ)Bethel JohnsonWRFree agent (NO)Rod DavisLBFree agent (CAR)Naufahu TahiFBSigned from practice squad (CIN)Brooks BollingerQBTrade (NYJ)Mike HawkinsCBClaimed off waivers (CLE)Martin NanceWRFree agent (BUF)Maurice MannWRFree agent (SEA)
+DeparturesPlayerPositionStatus (new team)ContractMichael BennettRBFree agent (KC)Brian WilliamsCBFree agent (JAC)Corey ChavousSSFree agent (STL)Daunte CulpepperQBTrade (MIA)Melvin FowlerCUnrestricted (BUF)Nate BurlesonWRRestricted free agent (SEA)Raonall SmithLBUnrestricted (STL)Lance JohnstoneDEUnrestricted (OAK)Hank BaskettWRTrade (PHI)Shaun HillQBUnrestricted (SF)Cory WithrowCUnrestricted (SD)Koren RobinsonWRFree agent (GB)Chris LiwienskiGFree agent (ARI)Dustin FoxCBFree agent (PHI)C. J. MosleyDTTrade (NYJ)
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 August 14 Oakland Raiders L 13–16 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,278 Recap 2 August 19 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–10 1–1 Heinz Field 57,813 Recap 3 August 25 Baltimore Ravens W 30–7 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,257 Recap 4 August 31 at Dallas Cowboys T 10–10 2–1–1 Texas Stadium 60,299 Recap
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap1September 11at Washington RedskinsW 19–161–0FedExField90,608Recap2September 17Carolina PanthersW 16–13 2–0Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,623Recap3September 24Chicago BearsL 16–192–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,754Recap4October 1at Buffalo BillsL 12–172–2Ralph Wilson Stadium71,972Recap5October 8Detroit LionsW 26–173–2Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,906 Recap6Bye7October 22at Seattle SeahawksW 31–134–2Qwest Field68,118Recap8October 30New England Patriots L 7–314–3Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,819Recap9November 5at San Francisco 49ersL 3–94–4Monster Park68,088Recap10November 12Green Bay PackersL 17–234–5Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,924Recap11November 19at Miami DolphinsL 20–244–6Dolphin Stadium73,070Recap12November 26Arizona CardinalsW 31–265–6Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,483Recap13December 3at Chicago BearsL 13–235–7Soldier Field62,221Recap14December 10at Detroit LionsW 30–206–7Ford Field60,861 Recap15December 17New York JetsL 13–266–8Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,677Recap16December 21at Green Bay PackersL 7–96–9Lambeau Field70,864Recap17December 31St. Louis RamsL 21–416–10Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,557 Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at Washington Redskins
The Vikings started the regular season on the road against the Washington Redskins on September 11, the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader on opening weekend. The Vikings drew first blood as running back Chester Taylor ran in a 4-yard touchdown on their opening drive; however, during the extra-point try, holder Chris Kluwe fumbled the snap and instead tried to go for a two-point conversion, which failed. The Vikings lead was cut in half later in the quarter, as Redskins kicker John Hall made a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, things were starting to look grim for the Vikings, as Redskins running back Clinton Portis and kicker Hall gave the Redskins a 5-yard touchdown run and another 27-yard field goal to make the score 13–6. The Vikings responded with a last-second 46-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell to close the first half. In the third quarter, the Vikings continued their comeback as quarterback Brad Johnson threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcus Robinson to give Minnesota a 16–13 lead. However, the Redskins tied the game up on a 22-yard field goal by Hall. Late in the fourth quarter, Longwell gave the Vikings a 19–16 lead, as he kicked a 31-yard field goal. During the final minute of the game, the Vikings held their ground and hung on to give Brad Childress his first head coaching win, as Hall missed a 48-yard field goal for the home side.
Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers
In their Week 2 home-opener, the Vikings faced the Carolina Panthers in a low-scoring fight. The Vikings drew first blood with a 26-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Longwell. In the second quarter, Carolina got a field goal with opposing kicker John Kasay. The Vikings responded with another Longwell field goal from 22 yards, but they fell before halftime with opposing running back DeAngelo Williams getting a 3-yard run for the Panthers. The Vikings trailed a bit further in the third quarter, as Karney kicked a 26-yard field goal. The Vikings started their own comeback. In the fourth quarter, Longwell faked a field goal try and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to fullback Richard Owens to tie the game up going into overtime. In the extra period, Longwell booted the game-winning 19-yard field goal to give Minnesota the win. It was the first time in Vikings history that a coach started 2–0 in his first year.
Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears
Staying at home, the Vikings played a fierce NFC North fight with the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Minnesota got on the board first with kicker Ryan Longwell completing a 31-yard field goal, but the Bears tied it up via a 41-yard field goal from kicker Robbie Gould. In the second quarter, Longwell put the Vikings back in front with a 26-yard field goal, the only score of the period. In the third quarter, Minnesota began to trail, as Gould kicked a 24-yard and a 31-yard field goal to give Chicago a small lead. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings retook the lead as cornerback Antoine Winfield returned an interception 7 yards for a touchdown. Gould kicked a 49-yard field goal, but Longwell answered with a 41-yard field goal for the Vikings. The Vikings fell to their doom, as Chester Taylor fumbled and the Bears quarterback Rex Grossman completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashied Davis, which gave the Vikings their first loss of the year. Of the first five games played by the Bears in the 2006 season, this was the closest game. All others have been decided by at least 26 points.
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
Hoping to rebound from the previous week's loss, the Vikings traveled to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a match-up with the Buffalo Bills. In the first quarter, the Vikings drew first blood as kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a 37-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Minnesota got into a tiny hole, as Bills running back Willis McGahee got a 1-yard touchdown run. Longwell gave the Vikings a 49-yard field goal as time ran out of the first half, but in the third quarter, the Vikes found themselves in a bit of a hole, as Buffalo quarterback J. P. Losman connected with wide receiver Peerless Price on an 8-yard touchdown pass for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota trailed even further, as Bills kicker Rian Lindell got a 28-yard field goal. The Vikings tried to come back, as quarterback Brad Johnson completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcus Robinson. The two-point conversion failed and during their next drive, they ran out of time. With their loss, the Vikings fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Detroit Lions
After dropping two straight games, the Vikings came home for an NFC North fight with the Detroit Lions. The Vikings struck first with a 26-yard field goal, which were the only points scored in the first quarter. The Vikings did not score again until the fourth quarter. Detroit got close, but Napoleon Harris got the first interception of his five-year career at the end of the first. In the second quarter, Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna ran 8 yards to score a touchdown, putting the Lions ahead 7–3. Detroit's next drive resulted in a field goal to put them ahead 10–3. In the third quarter, Detroit recovered a Vikings fumble and then go on to score another touchdown to bring their lead to 17–3. In the first minute of the fourth quarter, the Vikings' Travis Taylor scored a touchdown on a three-yard reception to bring the score to 17–10. The Lions' next drive ended in a forced fumble when Pat Williams burst through the line untouched and Kitna lost the ball, which was picked up by the Vikings' Ben Leber in the end zone for a touchdown; however, the extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 17–16. With a 4th-and-1 for the Vikings on the Lions' 34, kicker Ryan Longwell pooch-punted the ball to the Lions' 7. Later, the Vikings scored a 20-yard field goal to take the lead at 19–17. Detroit then threw an interception on 4th-and-10 to E.J. Henderson, who ran 45 yards to score a touchdown, bringing the score to 26–17. The Vikings' Darren Sharper got an interception in the last minute to seal the victory, bringing the Vikings' record up to 3–2.
Week 7: at Seattle Seahawks