Advertisement

Ragnar: The former Minnesota Vikings mascot through the years

Yahoo Sports Staff
  • <p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar the Viking rides onto the field before an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Minneapolis. </p>
    1/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar the Viking rides onto the field before an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Minneapolis.

  • <p>The former mascot, Joe Juranitch opens up about watching games after parting ways with the organization. “I still watch the games,” he says. “Is it something I have to do? No. I don’t know that I have watched a full game in its entirety. It’s difficult. It is difficult, bottom line.” (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch) </p>
    2/10

    Ragnar through the years

    The former mascot, Joe Juranitch opens up about watching games after parting ways with the organization. “I still watch the games,” he says. “Is it something I have to do? No. I don’t know that I have watched a full game in its entirety. It’s difficult. It is difficult, bottom line.” (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch)

  • <p>Joe Juranitch is seen with his father. Joe’s dad ran a machinery company that marketed sharp blades to process meats, and one<br> of the ways products were promoted at trade shows involved the use of axes. (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch) </p>
    3/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Joe Juranitch is seen with his father. Joe’s dad ran a machinery company that marketed sharp blades to process meats, and one
    of the ways products were promoted at trade shows involved the use of axes. (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch)

  • <p>Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers bids farewell to ‘Ragnar’ the Minnesota Vikings mascot portrayed by Joe Juranitch, after the Packers defeated the Vikings 23-17 on November 12, 2006 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Juranitch said that Favre told him in case he didn’t make the next trip to Minneaspolis, he wanted to let me know that its been fun. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
    4/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers bids farewell to ‘Ragnar’ the Minnesota Vikings mascot portrayed by Joe Juranitch, after the Packers defeated the Vikings 23-17 on November 12, 2006 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Juranitch said that Favre told him in case he didn’t make the next trip to Minneaspolis, he wanted to let me know that its been fun. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

  • <p>Ragnar, the Vikings mascot, supports the Minnesota Vikings against the Baltimore Ravens during NFL action at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on October 18, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Ravens 33-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
    5/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Ragnar, the Vikings mascot, supports the Minnesota Vikings against the Baltimore Ravens during NFL action at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on October 18, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Ravens 33-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

  • <p>(L-R) Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints shakes hands with Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar after the Saints defeated the Vikings 42-20 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 18, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images) </p>
    6/10

    Ragnar through the years

    (L-R) Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints shakes hands with Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar after the Saints defeated the Vikings 42-20 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 18, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images)

  • <p>Ragnar the Minnesota Vikings Mascot, played by Joseph Juranitch, is a fixture at all National Football League home games for the Vikings. (Photo by LAYNE KENNEDY/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    7/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Ragnar the Minnesota Vikings Mascot, played by Joseph Juranitch, is a fixture at all National Football League home games for the Vikings. (Photo by LAYNE KENNEDY/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar drives onto the field before the NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Andy King) </p>
    8/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar drives onto the field before the NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Andy King)

  • <p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar gets fans excited before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Mall of America Field on November 21, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images) </p>
    9/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar gets fans excited before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Mall of America Field on November 21, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images)

  • <p>Ragnar, mascot for the Minnesota Vikings performs during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Titans on August 29, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
    10/10

    Ragnar through the years

    Ragnar, mascot for the Minnesota Vikings performs during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Titans on August 29, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

<p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar the Viking rides onto the field before an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Minneapolis. </p>
<p>The former mascot, Joe Juranitch opens up about watching games after parting ways with the organization. “I still watch the games,” he says. “Is it something I have to do? No. I don’t know that I have watched a full game in its entirety. It’s difficult. It is difficult, bottom line.” (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch) </p>
<p>Joe Juranitch is seen with his father. Joe’s dad ran a machinery company that marketed sharp blades to process meats, and one<br> of the ways products were promoted at trade shows involved the use of axes. (Photo courtesy of Joe Juranitch) </p>
<p>Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers bids farewell to ‘Ragnar’ the Minnesota Vikings mascot portrayed by Joe Juranitch, after the Packers defeated the Vikings 23-17 on November 12, 2006 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Juranitch said that Favre told him in case he didn’t make the next trip to Minneaspolis, he wanted to let me know that its been fun. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ragnar, the Vikings mascot, supports the Minnesota Vikings against the Baltimore Ravens during NFL action at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on October 18, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Ravens 33-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
<p>(L-R) Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints shakes hands with Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar after the Saints defeated the Vikings 42-20 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 18, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ragnar the Minnesota Vikings Mascot, played by Joseph Juranitch, is a fixture at all National Football League home games for the Vikings. (Photo by LAYNE KENNEDY/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar drives onto the field before the NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Andy King) </p>
<p>Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar gets fans excited before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Mall of America Field on November 21, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher /Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ragnar, mascot for the Minnesota Vikings performs during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Titans on August 29, 2013 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>

If you’ve ever watched a Minnesota Vikings game, then you’ve seen Ragnar. The former mascot is the the most iconic Vikings fan of all time.