Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. Sean Taylor 6. Tarkenton was the first Viking ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and is recognized for his skill, consistency, and innovation as one of the greatest QBs of all time. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. Minnesota Vikings: Greatest All-Time Defense From the Purple People Eaters to Purple Reign, the Minnesota Vikings have struck fear into opposing offenses for over 50 years. Featuring 2018-2019 Vikings and some of the greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time, the best Vikings CBs include Antoine Winfield, Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, Fred Smoot, and Cedric Griffin. Buy Vikings Tickets. Picking a highest high proved challenging because a number of the safeties' big plays occurred mostly in games Minnesota ultimately lost. Demand for cruises on Viking reached all time highs last month when the cruise line had their best booking month ever and recorded 18 of their top 20 sales . Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Especially intriguing is Metellus, who received more opportunities this past year, including in the nickel when Mackensie Alexander missed the regular-season finale. Pages most ridiculous accomplishment was earning MVP in 1971 as a defensive player. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. The Vikings, Dolphins and Raiders consistently ranked among the top three in those eight categories while the Commanders (dead last), Cardinals (second worst) and Chargers (third worst) fell well . Who are the best Minnesota Vikings football players of all time? John Riggins 4. Known for his strength and endurance, Yary is widely considered the Vikings greatest defensive tackle of all time. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. That isn't due to the lack of great players. The rest is Vikings history. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Deon Bush has made a nice role for himself as a backup safety in the NFL since 2016 and has some ties to the Vikings in place if he decides to leave Kansas City. Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. Anthony Barr converted to linebacker late in his college career from running back, and has quickly become a top-tier 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. We asked for your Top 10 Vikings players of all time and more than 5,000 people responded. He finished his career with 37 interceptions, fourth in team history. 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. Last week, we covered the tight ends. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. He played at the University of Oklahoma, where he made history as the runner-up for the Heisman trophy as a freshman and was the Vikings first-round draft pick in 2007. All Minnesota Sports news fromFanSided Daily, Minnesota Vikings: Bye Week Pondering during Week 6, Deep Dive into Andrew Wiggins Overall Game, Minnesota Vikings: Greatest All-Time Offense, Minnesota Twins bullpen will be their downfall, Kyle Rudolph signing gives stability to Minnesota Vikings offense, Jake Odorizzis emergence fueling Twins starting staff, Former Minnesota Twins player David Ortiz shot, Packers reportedly meet with TCU WR Quentin Johnston at NFL Combine, Keidel: Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl Rematch Worth The Hype, Patriots Rumors: Thoughts and the romance of a Tee Higgins trade, 7 Takeaways from Packers' GM Brian Gutekunst speaking at NFL Combine, Red Sox Hot Take: Alex Verdugo could be the leadoff solution. Bush has 17 tackles over the last two seasons on special teams. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. This is the list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time. His signature face paint became part of this persona, and he played with guts and abandon that rallied his teammates and terrorized opponents.. A fairly steady tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Ron Yary was born on July 16, 1946, in Chicago Illinois, and was the first player selected by the Vikings in the 1968 AFL-NFL draft. Bynum made his second straight start against the Chargers in Week 10, and he made the most of it. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. When he retired, he held every major passing record, had played in nine Pro Bowls, won MVP (1975) and Offensive Player of the Year (1975), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. 2022 Team: Kansas City Chiefs Deon Bush has made a nice role for himself as a backup safety in the NFL since 2016 and has some ties to the Vikings in place if he decides to leave Kansas City.. Please check your email for a confirmation. Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? They've drafted two of the best players ever in Randy Moss and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson. ! He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a dominant force in both stints. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. Francisco Bustamante carom off three rails to hide, against Thorsten Hohmann [8:00]: https://youtu.be/uJ-ixqSywDc?t=6148. The top five teams went a combined 43-41-1 in 2022. Brian Dawkins 5. Brian Bahr/Allsport. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. The team's first-round draft choice in 1983, he came from USC to the NFL and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league on special teams. Paul Krause was the original ball hawk of the Minnesota Vikings. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Russ Grimm 10. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. He was voted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, played in six Pro Bowls, and was named to the All-Decade Team of the 2000s. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? Take a look at how all 32 of his. Monte Coleman 14. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. The Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints. In seven seasons, Bush has just 12 starts, three interceptions, and 100 tackles. 2. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. It includes every starting cornerback from throughout Minnesota Vikings history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. Bush could be a solid replacement on the market. Just like part one, this roster will be both awesome and arguable, and I await your comments (@eddiechisham). McCourty, who joined the safety after being selected 27th overall during the 2010 NFL draft out of Rutgers University has been one of the most consistent free safeties to play the game. Paul KrauseNo. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. Additionally, his ball-hawking ways helped solidify a pass defense that faces brutal competition every week in the pass-happy NFC North. He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. Knud, Knut, Canute, Cnut) is without a doubt one of the most influential Vikings in history, establishing a Norse rule in the North Sea for the first and only time in history. While stats are taken into account, there are other, more subjective criteria as well. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. The Vikings have drafted well over the years. 955 - 1035. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. From 2019 to 2020, Peppers recorded 167 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits across 26 games. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. His size and aggression on the field,paired with his intelligence and agility, made him the ideal offensive lineman.He was known to play through injuries and only missed two games throughout his career. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL safeties of all time NFL.com senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest safeties in football history. The Minnesota Vikings' defense could be different at all levels in 2023, depending on how radical they decide to be when it comes to personnel changes. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lake, who the Steelers drafted out of UCLA with the 34th choice in 1989, was a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time second-team All-Pro and he is a member of the 1990s All . He also managed 17 interceptions, though he wasn't known for his hands. Every player felt like the locker room had enough space, which was the best in the league. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. 10. Moss played with the Vikings from 1998-2004 and again for a year in 2010. Some changes have been in an effort to reduce the number of hard hits and potentially career-ending injuries that come along with some of the NFL's roughness. Wilson is a Hall of Famer, picked off 52 passes . The best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver is Randy Moss. Featuring 2018-2019 Vikings andsome of thegreatest NFL cornerbacks of all time,the best VikingsCBs include Antoine Winfield, Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, Fred Smoot, and Cedric Griffin. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. Sonny Jurgensen 12. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. 9. Maybe one day Smith will join Browner and Krause as one of the all-time great safeties. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. The team has had a lot of success, making the Super Bowl in 1969 along with 25 playoff berths since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. He was undrafted out of San Diego State and spent a year in the CFL before arriving in Minnesota in 1994. Yet, here stands perhaps the best collection of defensive linemen the NFL will ever know. A list of the best Minnesota Vikings of all time. Larry Wilson Highlight Video 3) Ken Houston The Vikings new Defensive Coordinator, Brian Flores, loves to blitz the passer. They hit their true stride in 1967 with Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant and are known for their dominating defensive line known as the Purple People Eaters and a slew of versatile athletes who redefined the bounds of their positions and earned hall of fame recognition. Dexter Manley 8. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/05/vikings-have-2-of-the-top-safeties-of-all-time/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. Cris Carter was born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio, and played college ball at Ohio State University. What many fans don't realize is that he played for 10 years prior to the accident. 2021 Vikings Position Recap: Defensive Line, 2021 Vikings Position Recap: Offensive Line, 2021 Vikings Position Recap: Wide Receivers, 2021 Vikings Position Recap: Running Backs, 2021 Vikings Position Recap: Quarterbacks. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. No player has dominated the corner position since the turn of the century . When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. Seasons:2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, Seasons:1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, Seasons: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, Seasons:1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972,1971, 1970, 1969, Seasons:1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, Seasons:1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. By the time Randle was finished, he had 114 career sacks, made six straight pro bowls as a starter and made the NFL team of the decade in the 90s. Smith has been one of the NFL's best safeties for a good long time, and he managed to maintain that status despite coverage and pressure breakdowns all along Minnesota's defense. 15 Gary . In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Acquired by Minnesota prior to training camp, he stepped right in for the Vikings. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. Greenwood. In his time with the Vikings, Krause made six Pro Bowls and had 53 interceptions, a franchise record. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. For his physical and mental contributions to the Vikings during his rookie year, Harrison Smith receives Honorable Mention on the list of the greatest Vikings safeties of all time. Projected to line up alongside him is Anthony Harris who took over as the starter in 2018 after Andrew Sendejo suffered a groin injury that eventually ended his season as well as his career with Minnesota. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. 114 tackles (83 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble; started all 15 games he played; on field for 1,049 of Minnesota's 1,280 defensive snaps (86.8 percent), 108 tackles (72 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles; started all 17 games he played; on field for all 1,280 defensive snaps (100 percent), 28 tackles (20 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed; started 3 of 14 games he played; on field for 211 defensive snaps (17.5 percent), 13 tackles (8 solo), 1 pass defensed; played in 16 games (0 starts); on field for 54 defensive snaps (4.5 percent), 3 special teams tackles (1 solo), played in 9 games (0 starts); did not play any defensive snaps. Replacement on the offense perhaps the best in the pass-happy NFC North great defense. 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