Alan Page
Minnesota selected defensive tackle Alan Page 15th overall out of Notre Dame.
The personnel ledger · Hall of Fame, 1995
Jim Finks
Minnesota’s general manager and vice president for the 1964–1973 seasons, Jim Finks helped build the Vikings teams that reached Super Bowls IV and VIII.
Last checked
Building Minnesota
Finks arrived as general manager in 1964. In 1967 he hired Bud Grant from the Canadian Football League. Minnesota won its first division title in 1968, and the organisation became a regular contender.
The roster took shape through several draft classes. These selections belong to different stages of that process; they are not a claim that one executive alone built the team.
Ron Yary
The Vikings used the first overall selection on USC tackle Ron Yary.
Chuck Foreman
Running back Chuck Foreman came from Miami with the 12th overall pick.
Before and after the Vikings
Pittsburgh player
Before his executive career, Finks played for the Steelers. The Hall of Fame’s statistical record lists seven seasons and 79 games.
Chicago Bears
Chicago hired him as general manager and executive vice president before the 1974 season.
New Orleans Saints
Finks joined New Orleans in 1986. The Saints’ account records his final draft in 1993 and his subsequent resignation because of illness.
A lasting place in the game
He died May 8, 1994. Hall of Fame enshrinement followed on July 29, 1995, and the Vikings Ring of Honor on October 18, 1998.
A note on the dates
We use 1964–1973 seasons for Minnesota, following the Vikings biography and Hall of Fame administrator listing. His next NFL appointment was in Chicago before the 1974 season.
The Hall’s position listing ends his Saints service at 1992; the Saints’ own media guide records a final draft and resignation in 1993. We follow the Saints for that endpoint. For enshrinement, we use July 29, 1995, confirmed by the Hall’s anniversary account; the Vikings franchise timeline instead prints July 25.
Sources
- Vikings biography and Ring of Honorhttps://www.vikings.com/team/front-office-roster/jim-finks
- Pro Football Hall of Fame profile and playing statisticshttps://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-finks
- Hall of Fame administrator service dateshttps://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/positions
- Hall of Fame: July 29 enshrinement anniversaryhttps://www.profootballhof.com/news/pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-1995-celebrates-30-year-anniversary
- Vikings timeline: conflicting enshrinement datehttps://www.vikings.com/history/franchise-timeline
- Saints media guide: 1993 final draft and resignationhttps://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/NO.pdf
- Vikings draft recordhttps://www.vikings.com/history/all-time-draft-classes
An independent fan-site profile. This site is not affiliated with the Minnesota Vikings or the NFL.