Minnesota Vikings

StaTuesday: A closer look at Brett Favre's 2009 season with the Vikings

Published Feb. 9, 2016 1:45 p.m. ET

Nate Gotlieb

We remember that summer of 2009 all too well, Vikings fans. The local TV news helicopters covered Brett Favre's arrival, and head coach Brad Childress and veteran players made trips to Mississippi to recruit him to play one (or more) seasons for Minnesota.

It was too good an opportunity to pass up for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. And it worked out pretty well in 2009, to say the least.

Favre led the Vikings to a 12-4 regular-season record, the NFC North title and the NFC Championship Game, where the team came within a late turnover of a game-winning field-goal attempt. It was a crushing end to the season, but for Vikings fans, it was arguably the most exciting season over the past decade.

With Favre being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past week, it seems like a good time to take a closer look at that magical season:

Favre signed with a Minnesota Vikings team that finished 10-6 in 2008 with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson splitting time at quarterback, a squad that won seven of its final nine games to capture its first NFC North title since 2000. The team already featured Adrian Peterson and drafted wide receiver Percy Harvin in the first round to add to an explosive offense.

The Vikings felt Favre's impact immediately. He led the team to a 10-1 start, which included a last-second victory over San Francisco in Week 3 and two wins over his former team, the Green Bay Packers. Favre appeared to be the league favorite for MVP at that point in the season, and the Vikings were in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

TOP QUARTERBACKS THROUGH WEEK 11 OF 2009 SEASON

The Vikings cooled off substantially after that, losing three of their next four games before winning their regular-season finale against the Giants. Minnesota crushed the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC Divisional playoff game before a heartbreaking loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship.

Favre finished the year behind Manning, Brees and Phillip Rivers in the NFL MVP voting, but he arguably posted better numbers that season.

2009 FINAL QB STATISTICS

Even more impressive, 2009 might have been the best statistical season of Favre's career. He posted a better quarterback rating than any season in his career and finished with a career-low seven interceptions.

FAVRE'S TOP QB RATINGS

We'll never know how Favre would have fared against Manning's Colts in that Super Bowl or how Bountygate truly impacted that NFC Championship Game against the Saints. For many, however, that year proved to be the most exciting and fun Vikings season in recent memory. It will be hard to forget Favre hugging Harvin after his first career touchdown or the miracle touchdown pass to Greg Lewis in the Week 3 victory over San Francisco.

Favre provided the Vikings with a magic that year that most young fans have never seen from their team's quarterback. It's a memory that most of the team's fans will never forget.

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