Minnesota Vikings · Franchise era 6 of 7
Zimmer's defense: the Minnesota Vikings story
The story in one sentence
Mike Zimmer built an elite defense, and Stefon Diggs's last-second touchdown sent the 2017 Vikings to the NFC Championship Game.
A complete roster produces the Minneapolis Miracle
Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter and Adam Thielen gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the jefferson transition.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2014
What came before
Peterson returned from major knee surgery to rush for 2,097 yards, while Brett Favre's 2009 season produced another painful NFC title-game finish.
2018-01-14
Divisional Round: New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings
2018-01-21
Conference Championship: Minnesota Vikings vs Philadelphia Eagles
2020-01-05
Wild Card: Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints
- 21TradeMarch 20, 2020
March 20, 2020
The trade that unlocked Josh Allen—and landed Minnesota Justin Jefferson
The Bills needed a true No. 1 receiver for Josh Allen; the Vikings chose to reset the position after Diggs requested a move.
To BUF2020PICKround asset
To MIN20201STround asset2020PICKround asset+2 assetsStefon Diggs to BuffaloBUF receives Stefon Diggs, 2020 seventh-round pickMIN receives 2020 1st-round pick · No. 22, 2020 fifth-round pick, 2020 sixth-round pick + 1 more6 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → After 2021
What came next
Jefferson's record pace and a season of improbable comebacks carried Minnesota into its post-Peterson, post-Zimmer transition.
The core