8 greatest one-hit wonder Vikings seasons of the last 30 years
By Ben Donahue
Player No. 7
Case Keenum - QB (2017)
First, all due respect to Sam Bradford, who was on Minnesota’s roster in 2016 and proceeded to throw for a career-high 3,877 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, the Vikes ended the season 8-8. In 2017, Case Keenum, now on his fourth team, was signed and took over for Bradford in Week 2 when Bradford sustained an injury.
As Vikings fans understandably wrote off the season, the journeyman quarterback took off. Keenum started the next 14 games and had a remarkable year. Minnesota went from 23rd in the NFL in offense in 2016 to 10th as Keenum passed for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns (career-best), and seven picks.
He also brought home a career-high 98.3 quarterback rating while leading the Vikes to a surprising 13-3 record. Then, in the playoffs, Minnesota was looking at a disappointing home loss to New Orleans in the Divisional round. Against all odds, Keenum found receiver Stefon Diggs for an improbable 61-yard hail mary touchdown that led to a last-second 29-24 win. The play was dubbed the “Minneapolis Miracle.”
The Vikings lost in the NFC Championship the following week, and the team decided not to bring back Keenum, Bradford, or former 2014 first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater in 2018. Since leaving Minnesota, Keenum has continued his vagabond career and has been on the rosters of four other teams. In 2022, he was a member of the Buffalo Bills as a backup.