1993 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1993 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings failed to match their 11–5 record from the previous season, finishing at 9–7. They finished in second place in the NFC Central to qualify for the playoffs, but lost 17–10 to the New York Giants in the wildcard round.

1993 Minnesota Vikings season
Owner	Roger Headrick
General manager	Jeff Diamond
Head coach	Dennis Green
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Giants) 10–17
Pro Bowlers	WR Cris Carter DE Chris Doleman G Randall McDaniel DT John Randle
AP All-Pros	G Randall McDaniel (1st team) DT John Randle (1st team) DE Chris Doleman (2nd team) DT Henry Thomas (2nd team)
Uniform
← 1992 Vikings seasons 1994 →

Newly acquired Jim McMahon, who was known for helping the Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX in the 1985 season, was the Vikings starting quarterback for the season. He spent only one year with the team and after the season, the rebuilding Vikings decided not to renew McMahon's contract and he would go on to sign with other teams. The Vikings later acquired Warren Moon for next season.

Cris Carter and John Randle were named to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. It was the first Pro Bowl for both future Hall of Famers.

Terry Allen, who had a breakout season the previous year, missed the entire season after tearing his ACL in practice.

Offseason

Additions	Subtractions
QB Jim McMahon (Eagles)	QB Rich Gannon (Redskins)
LB Fred Strickland (Rams)	G Brian Habib (Broncos)
	WR Hassan Jones (Chiefs)
	C Kirk Lowdermilk (Colts)
	LB Mike Merriweather (Jets)
	RB Darrin Nelson (retirement)
	DE Al Noga (Redskins)
	T Gary Zimmerman (Broncos)
	S Felix Wright (Chiefs)

1993 Draft

Main article: 1993 NFL draft

=Pro Bowler

1993 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection
1	21	Robert Smith	Running back	Ohio State
2	52	Qadry Ismail	Wide receiver	Syracuse
3	57	John Gerak	Guard	Penn State	from Patriots via Raiders and Seahawks[a]
	79	Gilbert Brown	Defensive tackle	Kansas
4	106	Ashley Sheppard	Linebacker	Clemson
5	133	Everett Lindsay	Offensive tackle	Mississippi
6	160	Traded to the Washington Redskins[b]
7	192	Gino Torretta	Quarterback	Miami
8	219	Traded to the San Francisco 49ers[c]

^{^[a]} The Vikings traded DT Keith Millard to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Seattle's third-round selection (57th overall) and 1992 second-round selection (39th overall).

^{^[b]} The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (160th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for DE George Hinkle and WR Joe Johnson.

^{^[c]} The Vikings traded their eighth-round selection (219th overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for RB Keith Henderson.

Undrafted free agents

1993 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Ron Carpenter	S	Miami (OH)
Matt Eller	DE	Bethel (MN)
Eric Guliford	WR	Arizona State
Dave Garnett	LB	Stanford
Shawn Jones	S	Georgia Tech
Robert Staten	FB	Jackson State

Staff

1993 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office Chairman of the board – John Skoglund President/chief executive officer – Roger Headrick Head coaches Head coach – Dennis Green Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Jack Burns Running backs – Tyrone Willingham Receivers – Tom Moore Tight ends – Brian Billick Offensive line – John Michels Assistant offensive line – Chris Foerster

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Tony Dungy Defensive line – John Teerlinck Inside linebackers – Monte Kiffin Outside linebackers – Richard Solomon Secondary – Willie Shaw Special teams coaches Special teams – Tom Batta Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel Strength and conditioning assistant – Mike Wolf

^[1]

Roster

1993 Minnesota Vikings final roster

	Quarterbacks 14 Brad Johnson  9 Jim McMahon 12 Sean Salisbury 13 Gino Torretta Running backs 33 Roger Craig 31 Scottie Graham 23 Barry Word Wide receivers 81 Anthony Carter 80 Cris Carter 84 Eric Guliford PR 82 Qadry Ismail KR 86 Jake Reed 89 Olanda Truitt Tight ends 48 Todd Harrison 83 Steve Jordan 85 Brent Novoselsky 46 Derek Tennell 87 Mike Tice		Offensive linemen 72 Scott Adams G 62 Jeff Christy C 71 Bernard Dafney T 66 John Gerak G 76 Tim Irwin T 69 Todd Kalis G 64 Randall McDaniel G 60 Adam Schreiber C Defensive linemen 92 Roy Barker DE 77 Brad Culpepper DT 56 Chris Doleman DE 99 James Harris DE 90 Robert Harris DE 93 John Randle DT 97 Henry Thomas DT 94 John Thornton DT 98 Esera Tuaolo DT		Linebackers 50 Bobby Abrams OLB 55 Jack Del Rio MLB 54 Dave Garnett OLB 51 Carlos Jenkins OLB 91 Greg Manusky MLB 58 Ed McDaniel OLB 53 Fred Strickland OLB Defensive backs 25 Vencie Glenn FS 32 Shawn Jones FS 39 Carl Lee CB 37 Lamar McGriggs SS 26 Audray McMillian CB 27 Anthony Parker CB/PR 24 J. C. Pearson CB/S 38 Todd Scott SS Special teams 68 Mike Morris LS 18 Harry Newsome P  7 Fuad Reveiz K		Reserve lists 21 Terry Allen RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 29 Chuck Evans FB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 61 Everett Lindsay T (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 59 Ashley Sheppard LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 26 Robert Smith RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 35 Ronnie West WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad 57 William Sims LB -- Robert Staten FB -- David Wilson S Rookies in italics 53 active, 6 inactive, 3 practice squad

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance[2]	Notes
1	August 1	at Dallas Cowboys	W 13–7	1–0	Texas Stadium	60,010
2	August 7	Buffalo Bills	W 20–6	2–0	Olympiastadion, Berlin	67,132	American Bowl
3	August 14	Seattle Seahawks	W 23–10	3–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	42,240
4	August 21	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 20–27	3–1	Arrowhead Stadium	73,080
5	August 26	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 30–13	4–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	41,512

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 5	at Los Angeles Raiders	L 24–7	0–1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	44,120
2	September 12	Chicago Bears	W 10–7	1–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	57,921
3	Bye
4	September 26	Green Bay Packers	W 15–13	2–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	61,746
5	October 3	at San Francisco 49ers	L 38–19	2–2	Candlestick Park	63,071
6	October 10	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 15–0	3–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	54,215
7	Bye
8	October 25	at Chicago Bears	W 19–12	4–2	Soldier Field	64,677
9	October 31	Detroit Lions	L 30–27	4–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	53,428
10	November 7	San Diego Chargers	L 30–17	4–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	55,527
11	November 14	at Denver Broncos	W 26–23	5–4	Mile High Stadium	67,329
12	November 21	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 23–10	5–5	Tampa Stadium	40,848
13	November 28	New Orleans Saints	L 17–14	5–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	53,030
14	December 5	at Detroit Lions	W 13–0	6–6	Silverdome	63,216
15	December 12	Dallas Cowboys	L 37–20	6–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	63,321
16	December 19	at Green Bay Packers	W 21–17	7–7	Milwaukee County Stadium	54,773
17	December 26	Kansas City Chiefs	W 30–10	8–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	59,236
18	December 31	at Washington Redskins	W 14–9	9–7	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium	42,836

Game summaries

Week 4: vs Green Bay Packers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	3	0	3	13
Vikings	3	3	6	3	15

Game information

First quarter GB – Brett Favre 2-yard run (Chris Jacke kick), 6:05. Packers 7–0. Drive: 14 plays, 85 yards, 8:55. MIN – Fuad Reveiz 35-yard field goal, 1:35. Packers 7–3. Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 2:06. Second quarter MIN – Fuad Reveiz 19-yard field goal, 4:31. Packers 7–6. Drive: 17 plays, 81 yards, 9:41. GB – Chris Jacke 49-yard field goal, 0:03. Packers 10–6. Drive: 13 plays, 47 yards, 4:28. Third quarter MIN – Fuad Reveiz 29-yard field goal, 10:50. Packers 10–9. Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards, 4:10. MIN – Fuad Reveiz 51-yard field goal, 5:35. Vikings 12–10. Drive: 8 plays, 39 yards, 2:26. Fourth quarter GB – Chris Jacke 20-yard field goal, 13:48. Packers 13–12. Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 4:06. MIN – Fuad Reveiz 22-yard field goal, 0:04. Vikings 15–13. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 1:49. Top passers GB – Brett Favre – 20/31, 150 yards, 2 INT MIN – Jim McMahon – 18/35, 217 yards Top rushers GB – John Stephens – 8 rushes, 62 yards MIN – Barry Word – 19 rushes, 65 yards Top receivers GB – Edgar Bennett – 6 receptions, 49 yards MIN – Eric Guliford – 1 reception, 45 yards

Week 4: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: September 26
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 61,077
• TV: CBS
• Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL Game Book

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(3) Detroit Lions	10	6	0	.625	298	292	W2
(5) Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	.563	277	290	W3
(6) Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	.563	340	282	L1
Chicago Bears	7	9	0	.438	234	230	L4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	11	0	.313	237	376	L1

Postseason

Week	Date	Opponent (seed)	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
Wild Card	January 9	at New York Giants (#4)	L 17–10	0–1	Giants Stadium	75,089

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Jim McMahon	1,968
Passing touchdowns	Jim McMahon Sean Salisbury	9
Rushing yards	Scottie Graham	488
Rushing touchdowns	Scottie Graham	3
Receiving yards	Cris Carter	1,071
Receiving touchdowns	Cris Carter	9
Points	Fuad Reveiz	105
Kickoff return yards	Qadry Ismail	902
Punt return yards	Eric Guliford	212
Tackles	Fred Strickland	110
Sacks	Chris Doleman John Randle	12.5
Interceptions	Vencie Glenn	5
Forced fumbles	Roy Barker Chris Doleman Carlos Jenkins John Randle	3

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 28)
Passing offense	3,200	200.0	14th
Rushing offense	1,624	101.5	21st
Total offense	4,824	301.5	17th
Passing defense	2,870	179.4	6th
Rushing defense	1,536	96.0	6th
Total defense	4,406	275.4	1st

References

1. 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
2. "1993 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".