Top 8 seasons by a Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback
By Tim Arcand
4. Wade Wilson (1988)
- Record: 7-3
- Stats: 2,746 yards, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
The Vikings drafted Wade Wilson in the eighth round of the 1981 NFL Draft to backup to Tommy Kramer. Kramer, a first-round draft pick in 1977 spent two seasons behind Fran Tarkenton before being the starter for nine seasons. Wilson spent 10 of his 17 seasons in the NFL with the Vikings. He started 48 of 76 games he played in Minnesota.
The best year in his career came in 1988 when he led the NFL in completion percentage and threw a career-high 15 touchdowns making 10 starts for the Vikings. The best game of his career came in Week 8 at Tampa Bay when he threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Vikings to a 49-20 win.
Along with the 4-2 record Kramer had as a starter in six games, the Vikings made the playoffs with an 11-5 record, good enough for second in the NFC Central behind the 12-4 Chicago Bears. Wilson led the Minnesota Vikings to a home playoff win over the Los Angeles Rams before falling to the 49ers on the road.
The following year he opened the season as the starter. He finished 7-5 starting 12 games for the Vikings, the most in any season over his 17-year career.