Patrick Reusse’s Turkey of the Year: past winners, from 1978 to 2022
Here are the 45 Turkey of the Year "winners" who preceded this year's "winner." The Turkey was thought to have been retired in 2017. The Authentic Turkey, a one-year wonder, made an appearance the next year before The Turkey Chairman again sought to retire the honor in 2019. But the pandemic arrived in 2020 and with it came a call for the Turkey's return. That year's winner took a prize known as the Turkey Revived Under Mandate by Public, or TRUMP Award. History will remember them all as Turkeys, however, by any name:
In the Star Tribune (35 years of "winners")
2022: Herschel Walker, ex-Viking and defeated U.S. Senate candidate
2021: Gersson Rosas, former Timberwolves executive
2020: Mark Coyle, Gophers
2019: (The End … or so we thought.)
2018: P.J. Fleck, Gophers
2017: Patrick Reusse, Turkey Chairman
2016: Men's Athletics at the University of Minnesota
2015: The Grim Reaper
2014: 25 Years of the Timberwolves
2013: Terry Ryan, Twins
2012: Tubby Smith, Gophers
2011: Zygi Wilf, Vikings
2010: Brett Favre, Vikings
2009: Tim Brewster, Gophers
2008: Marian Gaborik, Wild
2007: Charlie Weis, Notre Dame
2006: Pam Borton, Gophers
2005: Bob Naegele, Wild
2004: Red McCombs, Vikings
2003: Glen Mason, Gophers
2002: Kevin McHale and Flip Saunders, Wolves
2001: Randy Moss and Cris Carter, Vikings
2000: Jesse Ventura, Minnesota governor
1999: Clem Haskins, Gophers (vacated!)
1998: Carl Pohlad, Twins
1997: Dennis Green, Vikings
1996: Kerri Strug, Olympian
1995: Warren Moon, Vikings
1994: Jack McCloskey, Wolves
1993: Norm Green, North Stars
1992: 25 Years of Gophers football
1991: Chris Doleman, Vikings
1990: Kent Hrbek, Twins
1989: Mike Lynn, Vikings
1988: Lou Nanne, North Stars
In the Pioneer Press (10 "winners")
1987: Carl Pohlad, Twins
1986: Dr. Kenneth Keller, U of M president
1985: Lou Holtz, Gophers
1984: Les Steckel, Vikings
1983: Paul Giel, Gophers
1982: Billy Martin, A's/Yankees
1981: George Steinbrenner, Yankees
1980: Bobby Knight, Indiana
1979: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle; MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
1978: Woody Hayes, Ohio State