It is officially the 2026 offseason, and the "Steel City" draft in Pittsburgh is officially in the books. The energy in the Twin Cities is a mix of nostalgic celebration and focused ambition. After hosting a massive draft party at U.S. Bank Stadium while 800,000 fans flooded the North Shore of Pittsburgh, the Minnesota Vikings emerged with a class designed to reinforce a defense that carried them through a gritty 2025 campaign.
This is a new chapter for the Purple and Gold. With Adrian Peterson recently announced as the 2026 Ring of Honor inductee and J.J. McCarthy entering his third year with the franchise and being set to battle Kylar Murray, the focus has shifted toward elite defensive depth. Rob Brzezinski, who served as the interim GM lead through the draft following the departure of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, used the Pittsburgh draft to prioritize the defensive front, ensuring the "Skol" chant continues to ring out over one of the most feared units in the NFC North.
How to Get Vikings Tickets for the 2026 Season
U.S. Bank Stadium is preparing for an electric launch in 2026. With the full schedule release officially out as of Thursday, May 14, 2026, fans are expected to flood ticket portals to secure seats for an absolute gauntlet of premier home games and highly anticipated division rivalries.
- Official On-Sale: Single-game tickets go live on Ticketmaster almost immediately following the NFL's official schedule release on May 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
- Mobile-Only Entry: U.S. Bank Stadium is a strictly digital venue. You must use the Minnesota Vikings app to access your tickets; screenshots and paper tickets are not accepted at the gates.
- Stadium Pricing: Club Seating and season ticket renewals are currently in progress. Demand is high following the team's strong finish to the 2025 season.
- Secondary Market: For the high-stakes divisional battles against the Packers or Bears, check NFL Ticket Exchange, the official fan-to-fan marketplace.
Minnesota Vikings Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (ET) | Network |
1 | Sept 13 | Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium | 4:25 PM | FOX |
2 | Sept 20 | @ Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
3 | Sept 27 | Washington Commanders | U.S. Bank Stadium | 1:00 PM | FOX |
4 | Oct 4 | @ New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
5 | Oct 11 | @ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
6 | Oct 18 | Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium | 1:00 PM | FOX |
7 | Oct 25 | @ Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
8 | Nov 1 | @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
9 | Nov 8 | Miami Dolphins | U.S. Bank Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
10 | — | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
11 | Nov 22 | @ San Francisco 49ers (SNF) | Estadio Banorte (Mexico City) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
12 | Nov 29 | @ Los Angeles Chargers | SoFi Stadium | 4:05 PM | FOX |
13 | Dec 6 | @ New York Jets | MetLife Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
14 | Dec 13 | New York Giants | U.S. Bank Stadium | 4:25 PM | FOX |
15 | Dec 20 | Detroit Lions (SNF) | U.S. Bank Stadium | 8:20 PM | NBC |
16 | Dec 27 | @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
17 | Jan 3 | Tennessee Titans | U.S. Bank Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
18 | Jan 10 | Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium | TBD | TBD |
How to Watch the Vikings in 2026
- Local/National:FOX (KMSP-9) remains the primary home for Vikings games. CBS (WCCO-4) will handle AFC matchups like the Bills and Dolphins, while NBC (KARE-11) hosts Sunday Night Football.
- Thursday Night:Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for all TNF games.
- Holiday Special: Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday. Netflix will exclusively stream the NFL's holiday games this year.
- Best Choice for Local Fans:Fubo covers all local Minneapolis-St. Paul affiliates (KMSP, WCCO, KARE, KSTP) and the NFL Network.
- Pro Tip: For "Skol" fans living outside of Minnesota, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the only way to see every snap. If traveling, use NordVPN set to Minneapolis to access your local KMSP/FOX stream.
The "Steel City" Draft: Vikings 2026 Highlights
The Vikings were aggressive in Pittsburgh, making 9 selections to youthfully transform a roster that saw several veterans depart in free agency.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
1 | 18 | Caleb Banks | DL | Florida |
2 | 51 | Jake Golday | LB | Cincinnati |
3 | 82 | Domonique Orange | DL | Iowa State |
3 | 97 | Caleb Tiernan | OT | Northwestern |
3 | 98 | Jakobe Thomas | S | Miami |
Draft Analysis:
- The Trench Anchor: At #18 overall, the Vikings selected Florida's Caleb Banks. A 6'6" physical force, Banks is viewed as the "ceiling-raiser" for a defensive line that prioritizes length and physicality in Brian Flores' scheme.
- The New LB Leader:Jake Golday (#51) was a value steal on Day 2. The Cincinnati standout brings elite coverage skills and a "high-motor" tackling ability to the middle of the defense.
- Defensive Depth: Third-round selections Domonique Orange (#82)—affectionately known as "Big Citrus"—and safety Jakobe Thomas (#98) provide immediate rotational juice and secondary versatility.
Minnesota Vikings: 2025 Season Recap
The 2025 season was defined by defensive dominance and the steady growth of J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings capped off their regular season with an emphatic 16–3 victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 4, 2026, a game that saw rookie linebacker Dallas Turner record two sacks and a forced fumble. While the offense navigated injuries to the line, the "Skol" defense kept Minnesota in the hunt, ultimately finishing with a 9–8 record.
Week | Opponent | Result | Record |
W1–W17 | Regular Season | Mixed Results | 8–8 |
W18 | vs. Green Bay Packers | W, 16–3 | 9–8 |
Season Highlight | vs. Packers | Skol Defense | 3 Pts Allowed |
Star Performer | Justin Jefferson | 101 Yds (W18) | 8 Receptions |