The 2025 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), their 10th playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium, their 21st under the ownership of Zygi Wilf, their fourth under head coach Kevin O'Connell and their fourth and final under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The Vikings failed to improve on their 14âÂÂ3 record from 2024 after a Week 7 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and guaranteed a worse record the following week after losing to the Los Angeles Chargers. Weak offensive performance and a quarterback carousel led the team to a 4âÂÂ8 start, their worst since they started 3âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 in 2013. They were eliminated from playoff contention after a Chicago Bears win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. However, the Vikings did rally to win their final five games to secure a winning record. This is the first season since 2014 that the team had zero players make the Pro Bowl. On January 30, the Vikings announced that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been fired from the team.
Having been eliminated from the playoffs in the wild card round after a 14âÂÂ3 regular season in 2024, the Vikings had the 24th pick in each round of the 2025 NFL draft. They were scheduled to go into the draft with four selections, their fewest since making five picks in 2009. As well as their original first-round pick, they were also awarded a third-round pick in compensation for the departure of QB Kirk Cousins during the 2024 offseason, and acquired an additional fifth-round pick in a trade that sent DE Za'Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns; that same deal sent the Vikings' original sixth- and seventh-round picks to the Browns. Their original second-round pick was sent to the Houston Texans in order to acquire another first-round selection in 2024; that pick was then sent to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a package with their original third- and fourth-round selections in the 2025 draft in order to move up again and select OLB Dallas Turner. They also traded picks with the San Francisco 49ers in order to acquire RB Jordan Mason, giving up their original fifth-round selection and a 2026 sixth-round pick for a 2025 sixth-round selection. The Vikings had been expected to receive an additional seventh-round pick in a trade that sent G Jesse Davis to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, but the conditions of the trade were not met and the pick remained with the Steelers.
Draft trades
The Vikings' preseason opponents and schedule was announced on May 14, in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.
The Vikings played eight games at home and nine on the road in 2025. In addition to home and away matchups against each of their NFC North divisional rivals, they squared off against each of the teams in the NFC East and AFC North, as well as the teams that also finished in second place in each of the NFC South, NFC West and AFC West.
The NFL announced the International Series matchups for 2025 prior to the rest of the schedule on May 13. The Vikings were named as the road team for two of these games: against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in Dublin in week 4, and the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in week 5. The next day, the NFL announced the Vikings would play in a Christmas Day game at home to the Detroit Lions; it was the Vikings' fifth Christmas Day game and their third at home. The remainder of the schedule was announced at 7:00 p.m. CDT on May 14, 2025.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Vikings opened up the season on the road against the division rival Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Vikings got off to a rocky start in J. J. McCarthy's NFL debut, trailing the Bears 17âÂÂ6 by the end of the third quarter, which included a pick-six by former Viking Nahshon Wright. However, the Vikings came back and outscored the Bears 21âÂÂ7 in the fourth quarter to win 27âÂÂ24. This marked the Vikings' sixth consecutive win against the Bears at Soldier Field, the longest winning streak there in team history.
J. J. McCarthy became the first quarterback in NFL history to score three fourth-quarter touchdowns in an NFL debut, the first Vikings quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns in an NFL debut since Fran Tarkenton did so in the team's inaugural season in 1961, and the first quarterback to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit of at least 10 points in an NFL debut since Steve Young did it with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985.
Quarterback Carson Wentz made his debut for the Vikings in place of injured starter J. J. McCarthy, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. With the dominant win, the Vikings improved to 2âÂÂ1. Cornerback Isiah Rodgers made NFL history by becoming the first player to return an interception for a touchdown, return a fumble for a touchdown, and force two fumbles in a single game, doing it all in the first half. Rodgers also became the first Viking to score multiple defensive touchdowns in franchise history. Additionally, Vikings kicker Will Reichard kicked a 62-yard field goal, setting a franchise record for longest field goal made.
The Vikings faced the Steelers in the NFL's first regular-season game in Ireland. With the loss, the Vikings fell to 2âÂÂ2.
NFL International Series
With the win, the Vikings entered their bye week at 3âÂÂ2 and improved to 5âÂÂ0 when playing in London.
The Vikings' defense struggled, allowing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to complete 19-of-23 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, achieving a perfect passer rating. On a 3rd-and-9 with 1:45 remaining, the defense gave up a 45-yard pass from Hurts to wide receiver A. J. Brown, effectively sealing the game. With the loss, the Vikings fell to 3âÂÂ3.
With their second straight loss, the Vikings fell to 3âÂÂ4 and 2âÂÂ2 against the AFC. Carson Wentz would suffer a season ending shoulder injury during the game.
J. J. McCarthy made his return after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. The first-year starting quarterback completed 14-of-25 passes for 143 yards, threw two touchdown passes, ran for a rushing score, and sealed the win with a clutch 16-yard completion to Jalen Nailor on third-and-5 from the Vikingsâ 28-yard line, securing an upset win against the Lions. The Vikings improved to 4âÂÂ4, snapped a five-game losing streak against the Lions dating back to 2022, and won their first game in Detroit since Week 17 of the 2020 season.
The Vikings played an undisciplined game against the Ravens, with J. J. McCarthy throwing two interceptions, Myles Price fumbling deep in their territory, and the team committing eight false-start penalties, all contributing to their loss.
The Vikings recorded their first home loss to the Ravens in franchise history and their first home defeat against a Baltimore team since losing to the Colts in the 1966 season resulting in them finishing 2-2 against the AFC North and 2-3 against the AFC.
Although the Vikings overcame a 16âÂÂ3 fourth-quarter deficit and took a one-point lead with 50 seconds remaining, a 56-yard punt return by Bears Devin Duvernay set up Bears kicker Cairo Santos to convert a 48-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, preventing a comeback win by the Vikings.
The Vikings' offense was dominated in the second half by the Packers' defense, being held to a total of four net yards and committing three turnovers.
This was the team's first time facing their former quarterback from last year, Sam Darnold, since he signed with the Seahawks in free agency. Max Brosmer got his first NFL start at quarterback due to J. J. McCarthy being in concussion protocol. However, Brosmer struggled mightily, throwing four interceptions against the Seattle defense (including one that was returned 85 yards for a pick-six) and a passer rating of 32.8, the worst by a Vikings starter in a game since Spergon Wynn in 2001. In the end, the Vikings would fail to score a single point, resulting in their first shutout loss since losing 34âÂÂ0 to the Green Bay Packers in 2007.
The Vikings recorded their first shutout win since defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 3âÂÂ0 during the 2023 season. They also became the first team since the 1992 Broncos to be shut out and then shut out an opponent in back-to-back weeks.
Hours before kickoff, the Vikings were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention as a result of the Chicago Bears' win over the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings went on to beat the Cowboys 34âÂÂ26, securing consecutive victories for the first time in the season to improve to 6âÂÂ8.
With their sixth straight regular season win over the Giants, the Vikings improved to 7âÂÂ8 and finished 3âÂÂ1 against the NFC East and 5âÂÂ4 on the road.
Although quarterback Max Brosmer struggled, completing 9-of-16 passes for just three net passing yards, the Lionsâ six turnovers and a game-deciding play in which Jordan Addison ran 65 yards for a game-sealing touchdown secured a Vikings victory. With their fourth straight win, the Vikings improved to 8âÂÂ8 (3âÂÂ2 against the NFC North) and eliminated the Lions from playoff contention. This was their first sweep against Detroit since 2020.
The most recent time the Vikings forced six or more turnovers without committing one was in 1975, when they recorded eight takeaways in a 38âÂÂ0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
With the win, the Vikings finished their season at 9âÂÂ8 (4âÂÂ2 against the NFC North) and 4âÂÂ4 at home.