What the Vikings Really Need from Santa This Christmas
The Minnesota Vikings have a 5-8 record through 14 weeks inside a season when most fans thought they’d finish around 8-9, 9-8, or 10-7. No such luck. And because Christmas is less than two weeks away, it’s time to peek at Minnesota’s list for Santa.
This holiday rundown looks past quick fixes and digs into what Minnesota really needs, outlining five big-ticket gifts that could finally change the franchise’s direction.
The list contains vital items this year, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have all offseason to formulate a plan.
The Vikings’ Real Christmas Wish List for the Future
Santa is out in full force, and here’s what the Vikings need.
1. A Franchise Quarterback
Full disclaimer: this might be J.J. McCarthy. It might.
For the time being, fans are a bit impatient with “might,” craving a franchise quarterback to the utmost after Kirk Cousins delivered just one playoff win in six seasons. McCarthy was supposed to be the big savior in the Twin Cities; he currently ranks dead last in EPA+CPOE in Year No. 2 of his professional career.
So, between McCarthy’s theoretical emergence as “the guy,” a Joe Burrow trade, a Kyler Murray trade, or a new general manager taking a swing at the draft, the Vikings desperately need a franchise quarterback. Haven’t had one since Daunte Culpepper or Brett Favre, at least one who helped win more than a single playoff game.
2. A Young and Electric Running Back
In 2007, the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson, and he stuck around for a decade, tabulating a Hall of Fame resume. The year after Peterson left for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota found Dalvin Cook from Round 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft. He held down fort for six seasons.
It’s time to do it again.
Ever wonder why Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is a mock-draft darling so early in the draft cycle? Yep — it’s because the Vikings’ offense, equipped with a young quarterback like McCarthy, needs a game-changing young halfback.
The franchise should hit pause on Alexander Mattisons, Aaron Joneses, and Jordan Masons. Get a young guy.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick last month on Love: “Love would certainly be an intriguing selection, as he’s already rushed for 1,135 yards and 14 touchdowns in addition to catching 26 passes for 274 yards and another three scores in 10 games for Notre Dame this season. But would he actually be a good pick for a Vikings team that runs a pass-centric offense under head coach Kevin O’Connell?”
“Minnesota might be better off using the top-10 selection on a defensive lineman, cornerback, or safety instead of using a first-round pick on a running back who might get five touches per game in O’Connell’s offense. If the Vikings want to select a running back on Day 2 or Day 3 of next year’s NFL Draft, then that would be more ideal. But as long as O’Connell is still calling the plays for Minnesota, a running back probably shouldn’t even be a thought as a possibility for their first-round pick.”
3. Harrison Smith’s Replacement
If you pull up a mock draft, and it does not have Jeremiyah Love to Minnesota, there’s a decent chance that Caleb Downs will be penciled in next to the Vikings’ name.
Just like Kyle Hamilton in 2022, Downs is very obviously the best defensive back in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he might be the best overall defender.
Adofo-Mensah whiffed on Hamilton three and a half years ago. He can make amends this time by drafting Downs.
Harrison Smith has sounded, as of late, like a man who will retire in January. He’ll be missed. Downs will help ease the pain.
4. The 1-in-10,000 Parlay to Work Out
Here’s how Minnesota can reach the playoffs this season:
— Vikings Win Next 4
— Bears Lose Out
— Lions Lose 3 but Beat Bears
— Panthers Lose 2 Games
— Cowboys Lose to Vikings and 1 Extra
Ask Santa to make all of this happen. A rejuvenated Vikings team, led by an upstart McCarthy, travelling on the road in Wildcard Weekend for a date with the Los Angeles Rams or Green Bay Packers, could be oddly fun. Nothing to lose.
The Vikings will need Santa’s finest work to make this happen.
5. A … Super Bowl
No “What Should the Vikings request from Santa” list would be complete without the whole shebang.
Since 1966 — the Super Bowl era — the Vikings have the NFL’s fourth-best win percentage in the regular season. That stat is not fiction. They have zero Super Bowl to show for it. Of the league’s Top 16 teams via win percentage in these 59 years, Minnesota is the only franchise without a Lombardi.
The Vikings are overdue for a Super Bowl, and before too long — probably not this year — Santa must drop off a championship. It just has to happen. Not unlike the Chicago Cubs a decade ago.
Tracking Super Bowl appearances and NFC Championship games, Minnesota has lost seven straight. A heinous factoid.
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