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. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. Have a player you'd like to nominate? 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. While individual stats don't hold as much weight if the Vikings didn't accomplish a team win, it's tough to deny the performance Woods had against the Cowboys in Week 8. Key stats: 909 tackles, 52 INTs. . The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room,andtravel. They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. 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 . He returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns, demonstrating his knack for making big plays. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. The survey . He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. Peppers recorded 97 sacks in black and blue and forced more than 30 fumbles, both of which are by far team records. The best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver is Randy Moss. Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. The NFLPA specifically mentioned that they provide all three meals. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikingsstarting cornerback. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-rank-1st-in-inaugural-nflpa-team-report-card/, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. Additionally, his ball-hawking ways helped solidify a pass defense that faces brutal competition every week in the pass-happy NFC North. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. Listed below are the top ten best Minnesota Vikings players of all time. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. Smith is slowly making his case for being the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. . No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. It only took Sendejo 10 days to find another job after Minnesota declined the option on his contract as he signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million with the Philadelphia Eagles. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. In his first game, he made history as the only NFL quarterback to pass for four touchdowns during their first start and led the Vikings to a legendary win. 10. Ronnie Lott 4. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. The Vikings ended up falling just short in the Week 9 contest, but Bynum's big play helped give them a chance. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. 7. Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . He was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 1988 as an offensive guard. Since the Vikings will be under new leadership, it will be interesting to see if the powers that be opt to re-sign Woods or move another direction. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. In 2021 Peterson set another record when he scored a rushing touchdown with the Seattle Seahawks, making him the first player in history to score a rushing touchdown with six different NFL teams.Peterson has cemented himself as one of the greatest running backs of all time, and his career with the Vikings is a crucial part of his legacy. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Studwell didnt receive many accolades for his play, but the tape suggests that was a mistake. If he played at that level at a 17-game pace, Peppers would have . Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. 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The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". 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. Kam Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Za . An important part of the Minnesota defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Top 10 BEST SAFETIES of All Time And How to Shoot Them 56,661 views Dec 16, 2020 1.2K Dislike DrDaveBilliards 240K subscribers Dr. Dave recreates and analyzes the 10 best safeties of all time. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. Cris Carter was born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio, and played college ball at Ohio State University. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times in Minnesota and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1975, when he picked off 12 passes. When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. Karl Kassulke may be best known for the tragic motorcycle accident he suffered on his way to training camp in 1973. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Ed Reed 2. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Picking a highest high proved challenging because a number of the safeties' big plays occurred mostly in games Minnesota ultimately lost. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. This is the list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time. On other plays, they need to display elite coverage skills to stop the pass. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. A lot of fans would say that Harrison Smith hasn't been around long enough to merit a spot on this list, but the former Notre Dame star made enough of an impact during his rookie year to earn his place. His fierce hits caused receivers to think twice about going across the middle of the secondary. Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. He proved his merit over time, beginning a 176 consecutive-game streak with 133 straight starts in 1992.It wasnt until around 1996, though, that he truly came into his own. This was by far the most difficult position group to select. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. This linebacker corps covers all the bases: they are elite in coverage and stopping the run. According to The Top Tens, a website that allows fans to vote, Smith currently tops the as the best safety of the 2018-2019 season. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints. His overall total in Minnesota was 635 tackles. John Randle was born on December 12, 1967, in Hearne, Texas, and was an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Vikings in 1990. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Orlando Thomas was a second-round pick for the Vikings in the 1995 NFL draft. Paul KrauseNo. Earlier this week, he covered the safety position. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Heres where it gets arguable. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. All statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference unless otherwise noted. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. He holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game, was Best Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, and MVP in 2013, and ranks among some of the greatest running backs of all time. Sonny Jurgensen 12. In this defense, based heavily off pass rush, intelligent corners with good press ability will wipe out quick passes and stop outside runsWinfield fits that description. Will young safeties make a jump this next season? Even though he wasn't known primarily as a run-stopper, he tallied 442 tackles over his career. In the past two years, he has played on deals . He received only a brief suspension during his legal battle and continued to play with the Vikings until 2016 before signing a contract with the New Orleans Saints. It also called Kevin OConnell one of the most player-friendly coaches., The overview finished saying that the Vikings are a shining example of what is possible when a concerted investment is made in both staffing and facilities.. 9. 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