You Are Here > Pro-Football-Reference.com > Teams > Minnesota Vikings > 1997 Starters, Roster, & Players
1997 Minnesota Vikings
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 9-7-0, Finished 3rd in NFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 354 points (22.1/g), 11th of 30 in the NFL.
Allowed 359 points (22.4/g), 19th.
Differential of -5 points (-0.3/g), 16th.
Expected W-L: 7.9-8.1.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +5 (0.3/g), 10th.
Coached by Dennis Green (9-7-0)
Let people know you like this site. Sponsor this page for $15 per year.
1997 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
Glossary · ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+), · CSV · PRE · Hide Non-primary Starters| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | Brad Johnson | 29 | 3 | 13 | 275 for 452, 3,036 yards, 20 td, 12 int, & 35 rushes for 139 yards and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 227th pick / 1992 |
| RB | Robert Smith | 25 | 4 | 14 | 232 rushes for 1,266 yards, 6 td, & 37 catches for 197 yards and 1 td | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 21st pick / 1993 |
| FB | Charles Evans | 30 | 4 | 13 | 43 rushes for 157 yards, 2 td, & 21 catches for 152 yards and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 11th / 295th pick / 1992 |
| WR | Cris Carter* | 32 | 10 | 16 | 89 catches for 1,069 yards, 13 td | Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 3rd pick / 1987 Supp |
| WR | Jake Reed | 30 | 6 | 16 | 68 catches for 1,138 yards, 6 td | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 68th pick / 1991 |
| TE | Andrew Glover | 30 | 6 | 11 | 32 catches for 378 yards, 3 td | Los Angeles Raiders / 10th / 274th pick / 1991 |
| TE | Hunter Goodwin | 25 | 1 | 5 | 7 catches for 61 yards, 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 97th pick / 1996 |
| LT | Todd Steussie* | 27 | 3 | 16 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1994 |
|
| LG | Randall McDaniel* | 33 | 9 | 16 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1988 |
|
| C | Jeff Christy | 28 | 4 | 12 | Phoenix Cardinals / 4th / 91st pick / 1992 |
|
| RG | David Dixon | 28 | 3 | 13 | New England Patriots / 9th / 232nd pick / 1992 |
|
| RG | Scott Dill | 31 | 9 | 5 | Phoenix Cardinals / 9th / 233rd pick / 1988 |
|
| RT | Korey Stringer | 23 | 2 | 15 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 24th pick / 1995 |
|
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Fernando Smith | 26 | 3 | 11 | 4.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 1994 |
| LDT | Jason Fisk | 25 | 2 | 10 | 3.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 243rd pick / 1995 |
| LDT | Jerry Ball | 33 | 10 | 6 | 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 63rd pick / 1987 |
| RDT | John Randle*+ | 30 | 7 | 16 | 15.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | |
| RDE | Derrick L. Alexander | 24 | 2 | 14 | 4.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 11th pick / 1995 |
| LLB | Ed McDaniel | 28 | 5 | 16 | 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 125th pick / 1992 |
| MLB | Jeff Brady | 29 | 6 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Pittsburgh Steelers / 12th / 323rd pick / 1991 |
| RLB | Dixon Edwards | 29 | 6 | 16 | 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Dallas Cowboys / 2nd / 37th pick / 1991 |
| LCB | Corey Fuller | 26 | 2 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 1995 |
| RCB | Dewayne Washington | 25 | 3 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 18th pick / 1994 |
| SS | Robert Griffith | 27 | 3 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | |
| FS | Orlando Thomas | 25 | 2 | 13 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1995 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Eddie Murray | 41 | 17 | 0 | 12 of 17 field goals & 23 of 24 extra points | Detroit Lions / 7th / 166th pick / 1980 |
| P | Mitch Berger | 25 | 3 | 0 | 73 punts for a 42.9 average, 0 blocked | Philadelphia Eagles / 6th / 193rd pick / 1994 |
| PR | David Palmer | 25 | 3 | 0 | 34 punt returns for a 13.1 average and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 40th pick / 1994 |
| KR | David Palmer | 25 | 3 | 0 | 32 kick returns for a 22.2 average and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 40th pick / 1994 |
| Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick L. Alexander | 24 | DE | 14 | 14 | 277 | 6-4 | Florida State | 11/13/1973 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 11th pick / 1995 |
| Jerry Ball | 33 | NT-DT | 12 | 6 | 330 | 6-1 | SMU | 12/15/1964 | 10 | Detroit Lions / 3rd / 63rd pick / 1987 |
| Pete Bercich | 26 | LB | 16 | 0 | 240 | 6-1 | Notre Dame | 12/23/1971 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 211th pick / 1994 |
| Mitch Berger | 25 | P | 14 | 0 | 220 | 6-4 | Colorado | 6/24/1972 | 3 | Philadelphia Eagles / 6th / 193rd pick / 1994 |
| Tony Bland | 25 | WR | 2 | 0 | 213 | 6-3 | Florida A&M | 12/12/1972 | Rook | |
| Orlando Bobo | 23 | G | 5 | 0 | 320 | 6-3 | La-Monroe | 2/9/1974 | Rook | |
| Jeff Brady | 29 | LB | 15 | 14 | 235 | 6-1 | Kentucky | 11/9/1968 | 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers / 12th / 323rd pick / 1991 |
| Greg Briggs | 29 | DB | 14 | 0 | 214 | 6-3 | Ark-Pine Bluff,Texas Southern | 10/19/1968 | 2 | Dallas Cowboys / 5th / 120th pick / 1992 |
| Duane Butler | 24 | DB | 3 | 0 | 211 | 6-1 | Eastern Michigan,Illinois State | 11/29/1973 | Rook | |
| Cris Carter* | 32 | WR | 16 | 16 | 202 | 6-3 | Ohio State | 11/25/1965 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 3rd pick / 1987 Supp |
| Jeff Christy | 28 | C | 12 | 12 | 284 | 6-3 | Pittsburgh | 2/3/1969 | 4 | Phoenix Cardinals / 4th / 91st pick / 1992 |
| Duane Clemons | 23 | DE | 13 | 3 | 275 | 6-5 | California | 5/23/1974 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 16th pick / 1996 |
| Stalin Colinet | 23 | DT-DE | 10 | 2 | 281 | 6-6 | Boston College | 7/17/1974 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 78th pick / 1997 |
| Randall Cunningham | 34 | QB | 6 | 3 | 212 | 6-4 | UNLV | 3/27/1963 | 12 | Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 37th pick / 1985 |
| LeShun Daniels | 23 | G | 1 | 0 | 304 | 6-1 | Ohio State | 5/30/1974 | Rook | |
| Greg Davis | 32 | K | 4 | 0 | 202 | 6-0 | The Citadel | 10/29/1965 | 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 9th / 246th pick / 1987 |
| Greg DeLong | 24 | TE | 16 | 3 | 250 | 6-4 | North Carolina | 4/3/1973 | 2 | |
| Scott Dill | 31 | T-G-C | 13 | 5 | 294 | 6-5 | Memphis | 4/5/1966 | 9 | Phoenix Cardinals / 9th / 233rd pick / 1988 |
| David Dixon | 28 | G | 13 | 13 | 343 | 6-5 | Arizona State | 1/5/1969 | 3 | New England Patriots / 9th / 232nd pick / 1992 |
| Dixon Edwards | 29 | LB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 6-1 | Michigan State | 3/25/1968 | 6 | Dallas Cowboys / 2nd / 37th pick / 1991 |
| Charles Evans | 30 | RB | 16 | 13 | 240 | 6-1 | Clark (GA) | 4/16/1967 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 11th / 295th pick / 1992 |
| Jason Fisk | 25 | DT-NT | 16 | 10 | 295 | 6-3 | Stanford | 9/4/1972 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 243rd pick / 1995 |
| Corey Fuller | 26 | DB | 16 | 16 | 220 | 5-10 | Florida State | 5/1/1971 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 1995 |
| Ron George | 27 | LB | 16 | 0 | 243 | 6-2 | Air Force,Stanford | 3/20/1970 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons / 5th / 121st pick / 1993 |
| Andrew Glover | 30 | TE | 13 | 11 | 250 | 6-6 | Grambling State | 8/12/1967 | 6 | Los Angeles Raiders / 10th / 274th pick / 1991 |
| Hunter Goodwin | 25 | TE | 16 | 5 | 268 | 6-5 | Texas A&M,Texas A&M-Kingsville | 10/10/1972 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 97th pick / 1996 |
| Torrian Gray | 23 | DB | 16 | 3 | 200 | 6-0 | Virginia Tech | 3/18/1974 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 49th pick / 1997 |
| Robert Green | 27 | RB | 3 | 1 | 212 | 5-8 | William & Mary | 9/10/1970 | 5 | |
| Robert Griffith | 27 | DB | 16 | 16 | 197 | 5-11 | San Diego State | 11/30/1970 | 3 | |
| Matthew Hatchette | 23 | WR | 16 | 0 | 200 | 6-3 | Langston,Mercyhurst | 5/1/1974 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 235th pick / 1997 |
| Leroy Hoard | 29 | RB | 12 | 1 | 225 | 5-11 | Michigan | 5/15/1968 | 7 | Cleveland Browns / 2nd / 45th pick / 1990 |
| Brad Johnson | 29 | QB | 13 | 13 | 226 | 6-5 | Florida State | 9/13/1968 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 227th pick / 1992 |
| Andrew Jordan | 25 | TE | 2 | 0 | 260 | 6-6 | Western Carolina | 6/21/1972 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 179th pick / 1994 |
| Everett Lindsay | 27 | T-G | 16 | 3 | 305 | 6-4 | Mississippi | 9/18/1970 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 133rd pick / 1993 |
| Ed McDaniel | 28 | LB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 5-11 | Clemson | 2/23/1969 | 5 | Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 125th pick / 1992 |
| Randall McDaniel* | 33 | G | 16 | 16 | 276 | 6-3 | Arizona State | 12/19/1964 | 9 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1988 |
| Mike Morris | 36 | C-G | 16 | 0 | 276 | 6-5 | Truman State | 2/22/1961 | 10 | |
| Harold Morrow | 24 | FB | 16 | 0 | 232 | 5-11 | Auburn | 2/24/1973 | 1 | |
| Eddie Murray | 41 | K | 12 | 0 | 177 | 5-10 | Tulane | 8/29/1956 | 17 | Detroit Lions / 7th / 166th pick / 1980 |
| David Palmer | 25 | WR | 16 | 0 | 173 | 5-8 | Alabama | 11/19/1972 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 40th pick / 1994 |
| Anthony Prior | 27 | DB | 12 | 0 | 185 | 5-11 | Washington State | 3/27/1970 | 4 | New York Giants / 9th / 238th pick / 1992 |
| John Randle*+ | 30 | DT-DE | 16 | 16 | 290 | 6-1 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 12/12/1967 | 7 | |
| Jake Reed | 30 | WR | 16 | 16 | 216 | 6-3 | Grambling State | 9/28/1967 | 6 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 68th pick / 1991 |
| Dwayne Rudd | 21 | LB | 16 | 2 | 235 | 6-2 | Alabama | 2/3/1976 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 20th pick / 1997 |
| Bob Sapp | 24 | G | 1 | 0 | 319 | 6-4 | Washington | 9/22/1973 | Rook | Chicago Bears / 3rd / 69th pick / 1997 |
| Fernando Smith | 26 | DE | 12 | 11 | 287 | 6-6 | Jackson State | 8/2/1971 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 1994 |
| Robert Smith | 25 | RB | 14 | 14 | 212 | 6-2 | Ohio State | 3/4/1972 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 21st pick / 1993 |
| Todd Steussie* | 27 | T | 16 | 16 | 320 | 6-6 | California | 12/1/1970 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1994 |
| Korey Stringer | 23 | T | 15 | 15 | 350 | 6-4 | Ohio State | 5/8/1974 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 24th pick / 1995 |
| Robert Tate | 24 | DB | 4 | 0 | 188 | 5-10 | Cincinnati | 10/19/1973 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 183rd pick / 1997 |
| Orlando Thomas | 25 | DB | 15 | 13 | 222 | 6-1 | La-Lafayette | 10/21/1972 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1995 |
| Chris Walsh | 29 | WR | 14 | 0 | 194 | 6-1 | Stanford | 12/12/1968 | 5 | Buffalo Bills / 9th / 251st pick / 1992 |
| Dewayne Washington | 25 | DB | 16 | 16 | 195 | 5-11 | North Carolina State | 12/27/1972 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 18th pick / 1994 |
| Leonard Wheeler | 28 | DB | 15 | 0 | 192 | 6-0 | Mississippi,Troy State | 1/15/1969 | 5 | Cincinnati Bengals / 3rd / 84th pick / 1992 |
| Moe Williams | 23 | RB | 14 | 0 | 205 | 6-1 | Kentucky | 7/26/1974 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 75th pick / 1996 |
| Tony Williams | 22 | DT | 6 | 2 | 296 | 6-2 | Memphis | 7/9/1975 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 151st pick / 1997 |
| Team Total | 27.0 | 16 | 245.2 | 6-2.1 | 3.8 |