It finally happens! Through science, statistical models, and reckless deduction, it has been determined that the Minnesota Vikings will win the 2025 Super Bowl. A young core just reaching its prime, the NFC decimated by significant retirements, and a fresh face on the team could be the perfect combination to propel the team to the promised land. So, fire up that crystal ball, and let’s take a peek into the future to see how the Vikings finally get it done.
A Young Core In Its Prime
Justin Jefferson, the best receiver in the league at this point, will be 26 at the start of the season. Fueled by his record-shattering contract, Jefferson terrorizes the league. Adam Thielen retired in 2024 and won’t be around to take pressure off Jefferson, but Irv Smith Jr. has evolved into a tight end/receiver hybrid in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Even if Jefferson has already hit his ceiling in 2022 — which, if he has, is still quite a ceiling — putting up something like 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns isn’t unrealistic.
Up front, Brian O’Neill, 29, and Christian Darrisaw, 26, have cemented themselves as the best tackle duo in the sport. O’Neill only allowed one sack last season on over 600 dropbacks and looks to get even better. A dominant offensive line, something the Vikings have not seen in a long time, controls the line of scrimmage and allows the newcomer at quarterback to thrive. More on that later.
On defense, rookies Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. have emerged as a force. Known now as The Toll Booth, Andrew really takes a little something from his opponents each time they’re near him, while Sweet SixCine is throwing a party after every interception. Suppose Cine blossoms into a star like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expects, and Booth Jr. overcomes a troubling injury history to become the steal of the draft. In that case, the pair could easily transform the secondary into what Mike Zimmer had always dreamed it would be. With veterans like Danielle Hunter, Harrison Phillips, and Cam Dantzler still playing meaningful snaps, the defense projects to be very solid.
A Wide Open NFC
With Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady finally retired in 2025, the best quarterback in the NFC is now, um, Kyler Murray? Dak Prescott or a future rookie are about the only other competition for that crown. Matt Stafford and Kirk Cousins will both be 37 and will only regress at this stage. Call it overconfidence, but Murray and Prescott don’t exactly seem too threatening to stop a Super Bowl run. The Arizona Cardinals are an aging team and are already the fourth oldest in the league. And, well, the Dallas Cowboys are going to Dallas Cowboy.
Sean McVay nearly won a championship in his second year at the helm with the Los Angeles Rams, and he had to do it with Jared Goff. Giving O’Connell three years with better quarterback talent and a cooperative GM seems like ample time to get this team into contender status, especially with the old NFC heavyweights out of the picture.
The AFC still provides a challenge. It’s no secret that it’s currently the dominant conference. But with the NFC North opened up and few other legitimate threats, the Vikings’ path could be easier than it has been in years.
A New Sheriff In Town
This brings us to the biggest question of all: Who will be quarterbacking the Vikings during this historic year? For all he has given us, Cousins has aged and can no longer claim his iron-man status. At 37, his game just isn’t what it used to be, and the Vikings have decided to move on. Kellen Mond never quite developed into a starting-level quarterback, and the team couldn’t justify handing him the keys.
So instead they turned their gaze toward the trade market. First-round picks were burning a hole in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s pocket, so he traded three of them for a disgruntled star looking for a fresh start. Lamar Jackson signs his mega extension with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, but the honeymoon is short-lived. Their inability to stack wins mounts the pressure on Lamar, and he wants an out. Welcome to Minnesota.
A Lot Needs To Go Right
Of course, none of this could come to fruition. JJ could demand a trade, Lamar could learn to love Baltimore, and Kwesi’s competitive rebuild could fall flat right in front of a laughing Rick Spielman. There are no certainties in football. But the immense optimism for the future of the team is undeniable. There are a lot of budding stars aligning at the right time with a coach and GM whom the fans love. The conference could be weaker than in past years. So, who’s to say that in 2025, under the bright lights of Amazon Stadium, it can’t be the Vikings to hoist that championship trophy?
