On Jan. 28, 1960 — 53 years ago today — Purple Nation was born.
Max Winter, E. William Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr. would form the first ownership group for the NFL-expansion Minnesota Vikings, who would be ready to play in 1961.
The NFL also awarded a franchise to Dallas on this day. The franchise fee way back then? According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, just a cool million dollars. These days, buying into the league costs hundreds of millions more.
Here’s the headline from the Minneapolis Morning Tribune:
