Vikings Primary Logo
For over 60 years, the Minnesota Vikings have existed as an NFL franchise. Known as “The Purple People Eaters”, the Vikings have been no stranger to the playoffs. They have made 30 playoff appearances in its 60+ years of existence. Great players such as Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Adrian Peterson have dawned the franchise affectionately known as “The Purple and Gold”.
The foundational aspect of the entire logo history of this franchise is the iconic picture of the Viking logo. It was drawn by a sports cartoonist in the early 1960s.
As die-hard Vikings fans will see, many variations of this picture can be seen throughout their history.
For instance, the first logo in Vikings' history has a picture of a Viking with two yellow horns. The rest of their logo history consists of a Viking with two white horns. In the first logo, the Viking has white skin. After that, all of the other logos have Vikings with pale skin color. Additionally, the Viking has a white mustache in the franchise’s first logo while the rest of the team logos feature Vikings with colored mustaches.
Minnesota Viking fans are sure to enjoy this nostalgic trip that this page offers via the team’s logo history.
2013 - Present
Again in 2013, the Vikings changed their primary logo to show the profile of a Viking with long gold, braided hair, a large mustache, and bushy eyebrows wearing a gold and purple helmet with two white horns, one on either side of the helmet.
The Vikings have used this logo in varying color schemes since their inaugural season. This version here was first used in 2013 and came with several modifications most notably to the horns as well as the overall shape of the logo, especially in the lower left by the hair.
2010 - 2012
In 2010, the Minnesota Vikings primary logo shows the profile of a Viking with long gold, braided hair, a large mustache, and bushy eyebrows wearing a gold and purple helmet with two white horns, one on either side of the helmet.
The Vikings have used this logo in varying color schemes since their inaugural season, this version here was in use from 2010 to 2012, the shade of purple was lightened for the 2010 season. In 2013 the logo got a bit of a makeover with updates to the horns among other elements.
2002 - 2009
In 2002, the Minnesota Vikings primary logo shows the profile of a Viking with long gold, braided hair, a large mustache, and bushy eyebrows wearing a gold and purple helmet with two white horns, one on either side of the helmet.
The Vikings have used this logo in varying color schemes since their inaugural season, this version here was in use from 2002 to 2009, the shade of purple and the skin tone was both darkened slightly for the 2002 season.
1997 - 2001
The Minnesota Vikings primary logo shows the profile of a Viking with long gold, braided hair, a large mustache, and bushy eyebrows wearing a gold and purple helmet with two white horns, one on either side of the helmet.
The Vikings have used this logo in varying color schemes since their inaugural season, this version here was in use from 1997 to 2001, the shade of purple was lightened and the gold darkened for the 1997 season.
1966 - 1996
Known as The Norseman, the Minnesota Vikings primary logo shows the profile of a Viking with long gold, braided hair, a large mustache, and bushy eyebrows wearing a gold and purple helmet with two white horns, one on either side of the helmet.
1961 - 1965
Karl Hubenthal who was a sports cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times, did the original drawing of the Viking logo in 1961 for Bert Rose, then the General Manager of the Minnesota Vikings, who had contacted him. The logo itself depicts the fierce warrior from Scandinavia, what is now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The people of the era and who lived there referred to the warriors as Norsemen, or Northmen.