‘If you get there once, you’re very lucky’: Former Viking looks back on three Super Bowls

NINA MOINI: Today in 1977, the Minnesota Vikings were playing in their fourth Super Bowl. They lost and haven't returned to the championship since. My next guest was right there on the field. Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman was the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season. His knack for slipping past defenders helped the team to the Super Bowl that year and again in 1975, and again, of course, in 1977.

He joins us now to take us back in time a little bit, and look ahead to next week's wild card game for the Vikings against the LA Rams. It's going to be a big one. Thank you very much for being here, Mr. Foreman.

CHUCK FOREMAN: Oh, no problem. Glad to be here.

NINA MOINI: It's very fun to talk to folks who have such a deep knowledge of the history of the Vikings. This has been a pretty exceptional season. But some of the games, it really came down to the wire. They won 14. They've lost 3. And were in the running, of course, for the top seed. What has it been like for you watching this season unfold? What stands out?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, what stands out mostly is nobody ever picked us to win 14 games this year, no doubt about that. I thought they'd be-- well, some people thought they'd win nine games. I always thought they'd win like 12 or 13 games, but they exceeded that. But, no, that happens when you got good coaching. You got a great group of guys that are committed to the system, understand how to be professional, and not just pros, know what they have to do to be on their game every game. So it's been enjoyable to see them develop.

We've had some snags here and there. But now now's the time where they have to put all that aside and try to find a way to get to a whole new level of concentration, commitment. The whole thing has got to change, and it's got to step up. They got to step it up a little bit more. But my experience with the Vikings, of course, was great.

And when I got here, of course, they had a very veteran football team, very professional football team. And that was good for a rookie to come in to. And having a great coach like Bud Grant, I was able to have some great experiences.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, legendary. So do you think if the team does step it up, as you say, in certain areas, do you think this might be the year that they make it back to the Super Bowl or maybe even win for-- it would be-- the first time?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, right now everybody's 0 and 0. So what you did during the season means nothing other than where you're going to start. And so if you get on a good run, I think we have the ability to win out and get to a Super Bowl, no question about it. But they're going to have to be on what I call their A game all the way.

They're going to have to be able to step it up and do the things that they need to do and cut back on mistakes, make sure the offensive line's playing well. Because when they play well, the offense really clicks. Defensive line's got to play well. That way the linebackers can flow, the corners and the safeties can cover. But basically, from my perspective anyway, it all starts up front, the offensive and defensive line.

NINA MOINI: Well, and you know something about being clean and what you're doing and getting it together. You were nicknamed The Spin Doctor for your ability to pivot out of the way of the defense. So how did you find your way around the other teams. What led to that special title for you?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, actually, I got that name, I think, from a friend of mine back. I don't know who did it, but it came from when I was in high school and I used to play basketball. And there was a basketball player by the name of Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, who played for the Baltimore Bullets, who are now the Washington Wizards now. And we all tried to imitate him and the things he did on the basketball court.

One game, I think we were playing the Houston Oilers when I was a rookie. And I saw some open space that I wanted to get to, and I tried it once. And then the next thing you know, it became something I did cautiously, but I became-- somebody named me The Spin Doctor. That's how it all happened.

NINA MOINI: (LAUGHING) So it goes way back!

CHUCK FOREMAN: Way, way back, right.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, well, I want to know about being at the Super Bowl from your perspective. What do you remember? What might surprise people about what that experience is like?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, number one, you know that the whole world's watching you. Now, back when I played the Super Bowl, it was fairly new because you had the AFC and NFC. And then getting there at the Super Bowl at the time, well, we didn't have all the-- there was ABC, CBS, and NBC. That was it. Now you've got-- it's just overwhelming all the outlets you have.

But even back then, you knew that it was a game that you may not ever get to-- again, if you can get there once. You're very lucky. We got there three times. And my experiences were just unbelievable. The people we meet there, especially when we played out in LA or wherever we played, you were the sole focus. And the commitment and everything-- you go to a whole different level, like I said before. And just the whole experience and the things that are out there, and it's "the" game, and that's a great experience.

NINA MOINI: Was there one that stood out to you the most of your different three appearances there?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, all of them were disappointing, to be honest with you, because--

NINA MOINI: Aw. [LAUGHS]

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well, I'm just being straight and honest with you because we didn't win. In my three appearances, I thought there was only one team that was really better than us, and that was the first one we played. And that was the Miami Dolphins. I thought when we played Pittsburgh in Oakland, we really had some good football, good football team.

And probably the best football team is when we played against Dallas and Drew Pearson pushed off. And that was our greatest team. But just that whole experience at the Super Bowl, and it was a great experience, for sure.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, memorable.

CHUCK FOREMAN: Right, very much so.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. But maybe it didn't end up the way you wanted. And unfortunately that's kind of been the thing for the Vikings. They've had these Super Bowl appearances, and they also win a lot, right? They have a highest winning percentage. But they never seem to really take the crown. And some fans have gone as far as-- I don't want to use the word curse. But some people have thrown that around, depending on how the games and seasons are going.

What do you think it is? Why do you think that hasn't happened for the Vikings? And what would it take to change that?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well what can you say. I think everybody thinks they prepare for it. But when you get to that level and to that game, especially, there's no room for mistakes, none whatsoever. Everything you do has to be right on point. And you make a mistake and the team gets ahead. It's going to be that much difficult for you to catch up. Because number one, they're going to be at a different level mentally and physically. They're ready to take it to a whole new level.

And then you're going to have to fight your way back. And so there's no room for fumbles and interceptions, offsides. All those little simple things that make the play go, you have to be on top of that.

And then the one other thing I want to mention is what I call, for lack of a better word, stupid mistakes. Do not tackle when the guy's down. Or back in my day, they didn't do too much taunting. But that was limited, but still a lot of guys did a lot of crazy things.

So all those little things that you see, that you have to eliminate during the season, when you get to that level-- like right now everybody's 0 and 0, so everybody's starting off the same. And one team can get hot and just play exceptional football all the way through. And you see it all the time. So the Vikings are in the hunt. And I think the Vikings have everything in place if they play well and if that offensive line plays well, the defensive line does what they need to do and give those guys, those other skill positions, a chance to execute their game plan, I think we can go and do some great things.

NINA MOINI: Yeah it sounds like you're saying we need to have this be really clean, a clean game. And I have about 30 seconds left with you, but what's your pep talk for the team or younger players? What are you telling them to get their minds right so that they can hopefully perform that well?

CHUCK FOREMAN: Well yeah, as much as I hate to say it, you got to cut your family, your girlfriends, and all that loose.

NINA MOINI: [LAUGHS]

CHUCK FOREMAN: You can't let anything--

NINA MOINI: That's extreme. I like it.

CHUCK FOREMAN: It's really extreme. It's really extreme, but it's a necessity.

NINA MOINI: Focus, yeah.

CHUCK FOREMAN: And your family's got to understand that where you're at at this particular time may not ever happen again. And they're going to have to bite the bullet, too, and they're going to have to give you the space and time you need to stay focused on what you need to stay focused on because you don't need any outside stuff coming into this particular part of your football life because this is something-- yeah.

NINA MOINI: Stay focused you're saying, I wish I could keep your pep talk going, but we've got to run. Chuck Foreman, I very much appreciate your time.

CHUCK FOREMAN: Thank you very much for having me. Listen to you all the time.

NINA MOINI: Oh, thank you. And thank you all for listening as well. And thanks to our team that puts Minnesota Now together every day for you. We'll see you on Monday.