Coming off an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2000, the 2001 Minnesota Vikings entered the season with legitimate contender expectations. Instead, the campaign spiraled into a nightmare, concluding with a disappointing 5-11 record and a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central. Following the tragic training camp death of Pro Bowl tackle Korey Stringer, the Vikings drafted speedster running back Michael Bennett in the first round to bolster the backfield. However, execution on the field faltered completely. Minnesota failed to win a single away game, posting an 0-8 road mark. The collapse culminated in the end of Dennis Green's decade-long head coaching tenure when he was relieved of his duties prior to Week 17, leaving interim head coach Mike Tice to oversee the finale.

The Vikings' usually lethal offense regressed, ranking 12th in total yards with 5,185 and 24th in scoring with 290 points (18.1 ppg). Starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper struggled with consistency and turnovers before a knee injury ended his season after 11 games, finishing with 2,612 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while rushing for 416 yards and five touchdowns. Backup quarterbacks Todd Bouman and Spergon Wynn struggled to sustain drives in his absence. Despite the signal-caller shuffle, wide receiver Randy Moss hauled in 82 receptions for 1,233 yards and 10 touchdowns, while veteran Cris Carter contributed 73 catches for 871 yards and six scores. Tight end Byron Chamberlain emerged as a primary target, earning a Pro Bowl selection with 57 receptions for 666 yards, and rookie Michael Bennett led the backfield with 682 rushing yards.

Defensively, Minnesota was an absolute sieve, surrendering 390 points (24.4 ppg) to rank 26th in the league and gave up 5,666 total yards to rank 27th. The unit was particularly vulnerable against the run, permitting 2,299 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry. Highlighting the unit's lack of big plays, the Vikings forced just 18 total turnovers all year. Interior defensive lineman Chris Hovan provided one of the few bright spots along the front four, pacing the pass rush with 6.0 sacks, while defensive ends Lance Johnstone and Talance Sawyer added 5.5 and 5.0 sacks, respectively. Middle linebacker Kailee Wong anchored the second level with a team-leading 99 combined tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown, supported by veteran linebacker Ed McDaniel's 72 tackles.

The season's tone was set early in a bizarre Week 1 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which incredibly proved to be Carolina's only victory of their entire 1-15 season. Minnesota showed brief signs of life midseason, routing the rival Green Bay Packers 35-13 in Week 6 behind 200 rushing yards and topping the New York Giants 28-16 in Week 10 as Moss erupted for three touchdown receptions. A 42-24 offensive explosion against the Tennessee Titans in Week 13 brought the team to 5-7, but it proved to be the final victory of the year. Minnesota lost its final four games, including a 24-13 defeat at Green Bay in Week 16 that sealed Green's fate.

Missing the postseason for the first time since 1995, the 2001 campaign represented a painful, dramatic end of an era for the franchise. Dennis Green departed as the winningest coach in team history behind Bud Grant, and hall-of-fame wide receiver Cris Carter played his final season in a Vikings uniform, ending a storied 12-year run in Minnesota. Center Matt Birk and tight end Byron Chamberlain received Pro Bowl nods but the team's dismal 5-11 finish forced a complete organizational pivot. Mike Tice was subsequently promoted to full-time head coach, ushering in a new chapter as the organization attempted to rebuild around Culpepper and Moss.