Ownership of the Minnesota Vikings

Lore & Background

The Vikings' original ownership group, Minnesota Pro Football, Inc., had three major shareholders: Bill Boyer, Max Winter, and H. P. Skoglund, with minor shareholders Northwest Publications Inc. and Ole Haugsrud. In 1977, an NFL rule barring publicly held corporations from substantial ownership forced Northwest Publications to sell its stock, which was purchased by Winter and Skoglund. In 1978, ownership was transferred to Vikings II, Inc., with voting stock equally divided among Winter, the Skoglund estate, and the Boyer trustees.

In 1984, Max Winter agreed to sell his shares to Carl Pohlad and Irwin L. Jacobs, but the sale was challenged by the Skoglund and Boyer heirs. After court rulings, the NFL approved the sale in 1986, though Pohlad and Jacobs did not gain control. In 1987, Mike Lynn and partners purchased the majority of voting stock from the Boyer estate, leading to a board expansion and the removal of Winter as team president. Legal and ownership disputes continued until 1991, when Lynn's group purchased Pohlad and Jacobs' shares, and Lynn's own stake was later bought by other partners.

In 1998, author Tom Clancy agreed to purchase the team for $200 million but withdrew his offer in May. Red McCombs then purchased the Vikings for $250 million in July 1998. In 2005, McCombs agreed to sell to Reggie Fowler, but Fowler's finances proved insufficient; Zygi Wilf took over as lead owner, with the deal concluded in May 2005.

Reader's Guide

The ownership history of the Minnesota Vikings reflects a complex and often contentious succession of control, marked by legal battles, shifting alliances, and failed sales. From the founding group of Boyer, Winter, and Skoglund through the prolonged disputes of the 1980s between the Pohlad-Jacobs group and the Lynn-Whitney-Dyer group, the team's ownership structure was rarely stable. The 1991 resolution, which saw Lynn's partners buy out Pohlad and Jacobs, led to a diverse ownership group including heirs of founders and business figures. The failed sale to Tom Clancy in 1998 and the subsequent purchase by Red McCombs highlighted the franchise's high value and the challenges of securing ownership approval. The eventual acquisition by Zygi Wilf in 2005, after Reggie Fowler's inability to complete the purchase, brought a period of stability. This history underscores the interplay of personal wealth, league regulations, and legal frameworks in professional sports franchise ownership.

Did You Know?

• The Vikings were originally awarded as a franchise in the American Football League in 1959 before the ownership group withdrew and applied for an NFL franchise.
• From 1984 to 1991, control of the team was fought over by two ownership groups—one led by Carl Pohlad and Irwin L. Jacobs and the other by general manager Mike Lynn.
• Author Tom Clancy agreed to purchase the Vikings for $200 million in 1998 but withdrew his offer to better position himself in his divorce proceedings.
• Zygi Wilf became the lead owner of the Vikings in 2005 after Reggie Fowler was unable to prove his finances were sound enough to complete the purchase.