1963 Minnesota Vikings season
{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Minnesota Vikings
| year = 1963
| record = 5–8–1
| division_place = 4th (tied) NFL Western
| coach = Norm Van Brocklin
| general manager = Bert Rose
| stadium = Metropolitan Stadium
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| pro bowlers = RB Tommy Mason
T Grady Alderman
LB Rip Hawkins
| AP All-pros = RB Tommy Mason (1st team)
LB Rip Hawkins (2nd team)
| uniform = File:Vikings1962-64.png
| shortnavlink = Vikings seasons
}}
The 1963 season was the Minnesota Vikings' third in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, the team finished with a 5–8–1 record. Five wins in a season represented the most in the franchise's three-year history. 22-year-old Paul Flatley of Northwestern University was named the NFL's Rookie of the Year, a first for the fledgling franchise.
Offseason
=1963 draft=
{{main article|1963 NFL draft}}
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background-color:lightsteelblue;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;width:2em"|
| Pro Bowler |
| style="background-color:#FFCC00;border:1px solid #aaaaaa;width:2em"| |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| colspan="6" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| 1963 Minnesota Vikings Draft |
|---|
| colspan="2" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Draft order
!rowspan="2" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Player name !rowspan="2" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Position !rowspan="2" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| College !rowspan="2" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Notes |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Selection |
| 1 || 3
|bgcolor=lightsteelblue| Jim Dunaway || Defensive tackle || Ole Miss || |
| 2 || 16
|bgcolor=#FFCC00| Bobby Bell || Defensive tackle || Minnesota || |
| 3 || 31
| Ray Poage || Running back || Texas || |
| 4 || 44
|bgcolor=lightsteelblue| Paul Flatley || Wide receiver || Northwestern || |
| 5 || 59
| Gary Kaltenbach || Offensive tackle || Pittsburgh || |
| 6 || 72
|colspan="3"| Traded to the Cleveland Browns{{efn-ua|The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (72nd overall) to the Browns in exchange for CB Tom Franckhauser, OT Errol Linden, TE Charley Ferguson and K Fred Cox.}} || |
| 7 || 87
|colspan="3"| Traded to the New York Giants{{efn-ua|The Vikings traded their seventh-round selection (87th overall) to the Giants in exchange for DE/LB Jim Leo.}} || |
| 8 || 100
| Jim O'Mahoney || Linebacker || Miami (FL) || |
| 9 || 115
| Bob Hoover || Running back || Florida || |
| 10 || 128
| Terry Kosens || Running back || Hofstra || |
| 11 || 143
|bgcolor=lightsteelblue| John Campbell || Linebacker || Minnesota || |
| 12 || 156
| John Sklopan || Running back || Southern Miss || |
| 13 || 171
| Dave O'Brien || Offensive tackle || Boston College || |
| 14 || 184
| Ralph Ferrisi || Running back || Southern Connecticut || |
| 15 || 199 |
| 16 || 212
| Rex Mirich || Offensive tackle || Arizona State–Flagstaff || |
| 17 || 227
| Tom Munsey || Running back || Concord || |
| 18 || 240
| Tom McIntyre || Offensive tackle || St. John's (MN) || |
| 19 || 255
| Frank Horvath || Running back || Youngstown || |
| 20 || 268
| Mailon Kent || Running back || Auburn || |
Notes
{{Notelist-ua}}
Roster
{{NFL final roster
| year = 1963
| team = Minnesota Vikings
| prefix =
| active = 53
| inactive = 5
| PS = 5
| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|10|Fran Tarkenton}}
{{NFLplayer|11|Ron Vander Kelen|rookie=y}}
| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|30|Bill Brown|d=American football|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|35|Bob Ferguson|d=American football player|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Tommy Mason}}
{{NFLplayer|27|Bobby Reed|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Tommy Wilson|d=American football}}
| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|80|Jim Boylan|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|81|Leon Clarke|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Paul Flatley|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Jerry Reichow}}
| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|86|Ray Poage|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Gordon Smith|d=American football}}
| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|67|Grady Alderman|T}}
{{NFLplayer|63|Jim Battle|d=American football|G|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Larry Bowie|d=guard|G}}
{{NFLplayer|65|Gerry Huth|G}}
{{NFLplayer|73|Errol Linden|T}}
{{NFLplayer|74|Dave O'Brien|d=American football|T|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Mick Tingelhoff|C}}
| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|62|Bob Denton|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Paul Dickson|d=American football|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|83|Don Hultz|DE|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|70|Jim Marshall|d=defensive end|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Jim Prestel|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Pat Russ|DT|rookie=y}}
| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|55|John Campbell|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|58|Rip Hawkins}}
{{NFLplayer|57|Bill Jobko}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Steve Stonebreaker}}
{{NFLplayer|60|Roy Winston}}
| defensive_backs =
{{NFLplayer|22|Bill Butler|d=safety|S}}
{{NFLplayer|23|Lee Calland|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Terry Dillon|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Tom Franckhauser}}
{{NFLplayer|29|Karl Kassulke|rookie=y|S}}
{{NFLplayer|26|Terry Kosens|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|21|Chuck Lamson}}
{{NFLplayer|45|Ed Sharockman|CB}}
| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|14|Fred Cox|rookie=y|K/P}}
| reserve_lists =
| practice_squad =
}}
Preseason
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Week
! Date ! Opponent ! Result ! Record ! Venue |
|---|
| style="background:#cfc"
! 1 | August 10 | W 43–28 | 1–0 | Multnomah Stadium {{small|(Portland, OR)}} | 20,837 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 2 | August 17 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 27–3 | 2–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 42,966 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 3 | August 25 | W 17–16 | 3–0 | 29,815 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 4 | August 31 | L 27–34 | 3–1 | Hershey Stadium {{small|(Hershey, PA)}} | 15,861 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 5 | September 6 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 35–0 | 4–1 | 30,842 |
Regular season
=Schedule=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Week
! Date ! Opponent ! Result ! Record ! Venue ! Attendance |
|---|
| style="background:#cfc"
! 1 | September 15 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 24–20 | 1–0 | 30,781 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 2 | September 22 | L 7–28 | 1–1 | 33,923 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 3 | September 29 | W 45–14 | 2–1 | 28,567 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 4 | October 6 | L 14–56 | 2–2 | 30,220 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 5 | October 13 | L 28–37 | 2–3 | 42,567 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 6 | October 20 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 24–27 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 30,555 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 7 | October 27 | at Detroit Lions | L 10–28 | 2–5 | 44,509 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 8 | November 3 | W 21–13 | 3–5 | 33,567 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 9 | November 10 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–28 | 3–6 | 42,327 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 10 | November 17 | L 34–37 | 3–7 | 33,136 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 11 | November 24 | W 34–31 | 4–7 | 28,763 |
| style="background:#ffc"
! 12 | December 1 | at Chicago Bears | T 17–17 | 4–7–1 | 47,249 |
| style="background:#fcc"
! 13 | December 8 | at Baltimore Colts | L 10–41 | 4–8–1 | 54,122 |
| style="background:#cfc"
! 14 | December 15 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 34–13 | 5–8–1 | 57,403 |
=Game summaries=
==Week 2: vs Chicago Bears==
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 2: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
|date=September 22
|time=
|road=Bears
|R1=7 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=14
|home=Vikings
|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
|attendance=33,923
|weather={{Convert|51|F|C}}
|referee=
|TV=
|TVAnnouncers=
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196309220min.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|scoring=
First quarter
- CHI – Ronnie Bull 24-yard pass from Bill Wade (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 7–0.
Second quarter
- MIN – Jerry Reichow 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Tie 7–7.
- CHI – Mike Ditka 36-yard pass from Bill Wade (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 14–7.
Third quarter
- No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
- CHI – Bill Wade 1-yard run (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 21–7.
- CHI – Mike Ditka 10-yard pass from Bill Wade (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 28–7.
|stats=
Top passers
- CHI – Bill Wade – 23/32, 253 yards, 3 TD
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 13/22, 167 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
- CHI – Rick Casares – 7 rushes, 53 yards
- MIN – Tommy Mason – 11 rushes, 60 yards
Top receivers
- CHI – Mike Ditka – 8 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD
- MIN – Ray Poage – 5 receptions, 67 yards
}}
=Standings=
{{1963 NFL Western standings}}
Postseason
For the first time, the Vikings had starters in the East–West Pro Bowl, played January 12, 1964, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and won by the West squad. Halfback Tommy Mason, linebacker Rip Hawkins and tackle Grady Alderman each were voted to start on the West team coached by the Chicago Bears' George Halas.
Wide receiver Paul Flatley, who led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, was named as the 1963 Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI) and The Sporting News (TSN).
Halfback Tommy Mason, in his third year, was named first-team All-Pro by the AP, UPI, TSN, the Newspaper Enterprise Association and the New York Daily News.
Middle linebacker Rip Hawkins was named second-team All-Pro by the UPI.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963/allpro.htm|title=1963 All Pro Players|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=July 4, 2016}}
Statistics
=Team leaders=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| width=150px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Category
!width=150px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Player(s) !width=75px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Value | ||
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Fran Tarkenton | 2,311 |
| Passing touchdowns | Fran Tarkenton | 15 |
| Rushing yards | Tommy Mason | 763 |
| Rushing touchdowns | Tommy Mason | 7 |
| Receiving yards | Paul Flatley | 867 |
| Receiving touchdowns | Paul Flatley | 4 |
| Points | Fred Cox | 75 |
| Kickoff return yards | Bill Butler | 713 |
| Punt return yards | Bill Butler | 220 |
| Interceptions | Ed Sharockman | 5 |
| Sacks
|10.5 |
Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.{{Cite web |title=Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2021/07/pre-1982-sacks-added-to-pro-football-reference/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
=League rankings=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| width=150px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Category
!width=100px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Total yards !width=110px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| Yards per game !width=80px style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Minnesota Vikings|year=1963|border=2}}"| NFL rank | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing offense | 2,169 | 154.9 | 12th |
| Rushing offense | 1,733 | 123.8 | 4th |
| Total offense || 4,011 || 286.5 || 11th | |||
| Passing defense | 2,998 | 214.1 | 10th |
| Rushing defense | 1,733 | 123.8 | 7th |
| Total defense || 4,731 || 337.9 || 9th |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web |title=1963 Draft |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=1453 |accessdate=April 10, 2007 }}
- {{cite web |title=1963 Minnesota Vikings |publisher=DatabaseFootball |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=MIN&lg=nfl&yr=1963 |accessdate=April 11, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408163908/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=MIN&lg=nfl&yr=1963 |archivedate=8 April 2007 |url-status=usurped }}
{{refend}}
{{Minnesota Vikings}}
{{Minnesota Vikings seasons}}
{{1963 NFL season by team}}