Who is the Minnesota Vikings’ greatest nemesis of all-time?

Since their inaugural season in 1961, which former opposing NFL player or coach still gets on the nerves of many of those who root for the Minnesota Vikings?

During the existence of the Minnesota Vikings, the franchise has encountered a number of players and coaches from around the NFL that have caused the team a good amount of anger.

Talk to a Vikings fan today and his or her list of the team’s most hated opposing players and coaches likely consists of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler among others.

But of all-time? There seems to only be one name that continues to cause Minnesota fans to throw up in their mouths a little after every time it is spoken into thin air.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson is someone who Vikings fans still hate thinking about to this very day. For those who are unaware of why Pearson is so disliked in the state of Minnesota, allow NFLMocks.com’s Erik Lambert to explain.

Minnesota Vikings

"“Ask any Vikings fans to this day about the name Drew Pearson and the same phrase will come spewing from their mouths like an unstoppable avalanche. ‘He pushed off!’This is in reference to the now iconic playoff game in 1975 between Minnesota and the Dallas Cowboys. Many felt that should’ve been the year the Vikings finally won their first Super Bowl.”"

Lambert is referring to the infamous hail mary touchdown pass by Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach to Pearson that ended up sending the Vikings home in the 1975 playoffs.

A replay of the sequence shows the Dallas receiver pushing former Minnesota cornerback Nate Wright out of the way to make the catch, yet no penalty for offensive pass interference was called. Instead the Vikings quest for a championship in 1975 came to an end thanks to the play made by Pearson.

Next: The 30 greatest Vikings players of all-time

That season’s team was one of Minnesota’s best ever in the history of the franchise. But just like every other Vikings roster to follow, they too were unable to end their year with a Super Bowl win.