Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. He started 12 games that year and went on to play in 131 games for Minnesota, which is sixth most for any defensive back in team history. For the first time, the NFL Players Association released their team report cards on Wednesday. Even though he was limited to part-time duty during his first two seasons, he still managed three interceptions and an amazing seven fumble recoveries. His heady presence in the secondary served to make him a leader on the defense, even though he's one of the youngest players on the field. Kam Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. In addition to leading the team in tackles with eight, Woods intercepted QB Cooper Rush early in the second quarter. In similar fashion to the defensive line . All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. One name that is well worth mentioning among the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time list is the former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Football Hall of Famer strong safety Kenny Easley. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. This week, we'll focus on safeties. Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. This is the list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time. In 1990 the Minnesota Vikings signed Carter off waivers for $100 and offered him the opportunity to get sober and redeem his NFL career. Bryant always excelled in coverage, and his tape shows his incredible knack for reading the eyes of the quarterback, even while matching receivers step for step. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. All he did from there was become the emotional leader of the Vikings, and a fierce pass rusher from the inside of the line. Honorable mentions: Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg and Chad Greenway. Carnell Lake. His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. For Bush, the NFL journey has been full of backup time and special teams, a role that is more valuable than the respect it receives. In 1990, the team successfully claimed Cris Carter off waivers. Charles Mann 16. Krause was named All-NFL four times, started in four Super Bowls and has a Minnesota Vikings record with 10 interceptions in a year. The Hall of Famer was with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with the Redskins. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. Orlando Thomas was a second-round pick for the Vikings in the 1995 NFL draft. 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 never missed a game over the span of his lengthy career and started in a consecutive 240 regular-season games.He took on some of the NFLs best linebackers and was a highly skilled blocker, helping teammates like Fran Tarkenton and Chuck Foreman make their way into the record books. Bynum flashed in an extremely small sample size. . Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. In 1997 he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks, and a year later signed a $32.5 million dollar contract with the Vikings, the largest contract for a defensive lineman up to that point. Krause ranked No. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. Browner forced 18 fumbles over his career and recovered 16 of them. 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. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. Another name to monitor who shares that familiarity is Adrian Amos if he has a smaller price tag and is open to continuing his journey in the NFC North after stops in Green Bay and Chicago. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. 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. Some have been ball hawks, while others have been huge hitters. Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. 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. The Minnesota Vikings need to be efficient in the offseason. 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. Led the Vikings to three of their four Superbowls in 1974, 1975, and 1977, Became the first defensive player to receive the NFLs MVP award, Part of the legendary Vikings defensive line known as The Purple People Eaters, Set a record when he was selected twelve times consecutively for the Pro Bowl, Regarded as the real muscle behind the notorious Purple People Eaters, Selected for the Vikings 40th and 50th Anniversary teams, NFL 1,000-Yard Clubs Top Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1969, Selected for the NFLs All-Decade Team for the 1990s, Widely considered the Vikings greatest. Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. The 25 Best Safeties In NFL History. The safety is the last line of your team's defense, but elite talents are capable of making big plays on pass rush duties, too. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Bynum filled in admirably when Smith who disclosed earlier in the year he was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. 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Darrell Green 3. When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. 9. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. Williams is vastly underrated and is simply one of the NFL's top free safeties right now. 4 position on the list of greatest Vikings safeties of all time. In a comparison between Krause and Smith, even though they come from different eras, the edge would easily go to the player who wore No. Carl Eller, one of the Purple People Eaters, simply out manned opposing left tackles for 15 seasons as a Viking. 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. His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. The best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver is Randy Moss. In the past two years, he has played on deals . These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. Then check out this list of Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters. Please rank the players based only on their time with the Vikings, The Best Quarterbacks to Never Win a Super Bowl, The Best Notre Dame Football Players of All Time. L.C. "So that was just a good job on both safeties, and the whole secondary doing [its] job was able to free me up for the play.". The Vikings enter March way over the salary cap. Of course there was a number of other players considered, but no one popped on the film quite like Barr. Brian Bahr/Allsport. Despite excelling, Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967. Vikings have 2 of the top safeties of all time Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West Broncos. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. 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. Karl Kassulke was known in NFL circles as a fierce hitter, but Robert Griffith made a career out of it. That rookie year was the highlight of his seven-year career with Minnesota. John Riggins 4. In some circumstances, they need to hit like linebackers to stop the running game. The Vikings new Defensive Coordinator, Brian Flores, loves to blitz the passer. Every player felt like the locker room had enough space, which was the best in the league. They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. 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. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. 7. 98% of players also said there is enough hot and cold tub space. He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl title his rookie year and followed that up with a . 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. Larry Wilson Highlight Video 3) Ken Houston Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . 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. 14 Chris Doleman Defensive End. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. He was second on the team's all-time sack list with 92.5 and played in 191 consecutive games every game for 12 consecutive seasons. Need I say more? Charley Taylor 7. The Raiders and Texans were the only two in the top five to finish with a losing record, while the Vikings, Dolphins, and Cowboys all made the . The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. Troy Polamalu 3. 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. Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. Viking Cruises. In his athletic prime, Antoine Winfield was an excellent corner in coverage and had a keen ability to press wide receivers at the line. No player has dominated the corner position since the turn of the century . The rest is Vikings history. With 148 career sacks (as an interior linemanI cant stress that enough), four Super Bowl appearances, and four defensive player of the year honors, Page was one of the most impactful players of the era. Inducted into the hall of fame in 1988. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. He became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. Bush has 17 tackles over the last two seasons on special teams. Woods provided the experience the Vikings hoped for in the secondary, but he also was targeted most by opponents who likely veered away from a six-time Pro Bowler in Smith, who played more at the line of scrimmage than Woods. Art Monk 5. 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. The survey . Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. 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. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. He tallied 130 career sacks in purple and was All-Pro five times. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints. Will young safeties make a jump this next season? Formed in 1961, the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the NFL's hard luck franchises. 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 . The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room, and travel. Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? "I don't want to . Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. His overall total in Minnesota was 635 tackles. When he saw the Ravens offense set up, Bynum immediately recognized it as a look he'd seen all week during Vikings practices. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. The criteria used includes games started, interceptions and fumble recoveries, touchdowns scored, and their approximate value (AV) assigned by Pro Football Reference. Kassulke was a big hitter and one of the backbones of the famed Purple People Eaters. In the run, Studwell was the first body to the hole. Alex Pagulayan full-hit follow-the-rail hide, against Skyler Woodward [8:51]: https://youtu.be/ALy6VtA78uw?t=5259. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. For his intense field presence, his contributions to some of the best defenses in history and his longevity with the club, Karl Kassulke moves past Orlando Thomas into the No. No pair of safeties has performed better or lifted their defense higher than the Vikings' tandem of Harris and Smith. Emlen Tunnell Honorable Mentions FAQ His 1,098 tackles are the fifth highest number in team 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. Heres where it gets arguable. 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. Will the Vikings' offense be better or worse in 2019? In his time with the Vikings, Krause made six Pro Bowls and had 53 interceptions, a franchise record. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. As he got older, Winfield became the best tackling corner back in the NFL, and was stout against the run. 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? Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. Who Are The Atlanta Falcons' Biggest Rivals? Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . Tarkentons eventual return to the Vikings in 1972 brought even more success.He played another seven years and led the Vikings to six NFC Central Division titles and three of their four Super Bowls. The Commanders were at the bottom of the rankings, with the Cardinals 31st and the Chargers 30th. It's all about being a Viking. Little known fact about Alan Page: he blocked 28 punts and kicks in his careeras an interior lineman. His intense passion for the game and endless pursuit of perfection made him one of the most fearsome safeties of his. If you think someone should be on this list of the best Vikings of all time, then feel free to add him to the list. Smith is slowly making his case for being the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. The goal: assemble the scariest, most talented roster from Vikings historya group that promises to make the crowd roar without allowing a score. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. Have a player you'd like to nominate? Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. He played in all four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances and helped the team win two NFL Central Division titles, three NFC titles, and nine NFC Central championships. 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 . In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. Mario He jump safe, against Bashar Hussain [0:35]: https://youtu.be/8l22PVMLcds?t=20992. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. He played for the University of Georgia and was drafted to the Vikings in 1961 when the team was just getting its start. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. Buy Vikings Tickets. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Smith, the Vikings' second first-round pick of the 2012 draft, helped turn an abysmal secondary into a respectable NFL unit in his first year. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. He spent fourteen years with the Vikings and played starting right tackle from his second season on.. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. That record has lasted over 37 years. 1. 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. Sonny Jurgensen 12. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. 8. They've drafted two of the best players ever in Randy Moss and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson. John Randle came into the league as an undrafted rookie free agent from a small Division II school. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. He had 51 interceptions in 13 years and had four defensive touchdowns. Top 50 Washington Redskins Players of All Time By Clark Boinis | Aug 28, 2021, 12:32pm 1. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. They held teams to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship game they held the Giants to just ten points. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. He played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls and was selected for the 1990s All-Decade team.In 2002, at the time of his retirement, he was the NFLs second all-time leading receiver, held 19 team records for the Vikings, 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards, and 130 touchdowns.His career is not only a testament to his skill but the gratification of hard work and discipline. He became their starting quarterback in his rookie season and began a relentless career that landed him in the history books and at the top of our list. Strong Safety. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, Five years ago today, the Vikings celebrated the Minneapolis Miracle. Known for his strength and endurance, Yary is widely considered the Vikings greatest defensive tackle of all time. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . Kassulke was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1963. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Woods recorded a strip sack of Rush, and linebacker Anthony Barr was able to recover the fumble. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. 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. According to the press release, the NFLPAs goals were to highlight positive clubs, identify areas that could use improvement, and highlight best practices and standards.. The best NFL safeties of all time are the ones that could lock down the league's best wide receivers in coverage while also delivering big hits to stop the run game. NFL Best Safeties in the NFL 2022: Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Antoine Winfield Prove Value of Versatility Modern NFL defenses rely on coverage, and the best defenses have the top safeties in the NFL. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. Greenwood. Ronnie Lott 4. Krause still holds the all time interceptions record in the NFL with 81. Alan Page. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. Mick Tingelhoff was an undrafted free agent when he started in his rookie season with the Vikings at center, a position he maintained over his exemplary 17 seasons, and earned him recognition as one of the best the NFL has ever seen. Known primarily as a tackler, Browner surprisingly snared 37 interceptions, which is good for fourth on the Vikings' all-time list. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. 25. Adrian Peterson was born on March 21, 1985, in Palestine, Texas. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. Born August 7, 1945, in Canton, Ohio, Alan Page was a first-round draft pick from Notre Dame in 1967.His philosophy was that a defensive player should think of himself as an aggressor, not as a defender. He was a key element of the notorious Purple People Eaters defensive line and a nightmare for opposing teams. He was a first-team All-Pro three times over that span. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. Sammy Baugh 2. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. The offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and the Vikings ultimately fell 20-16. , a franchise record ; time with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with Purple! Interior lineman off three rails for hide and distance, against skyler Woodward [ 8:51 ]::... Drafted two of them right tackle from his second season on by diagnosing early. Circumstances, they best vikings safeties of all time to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings all! Minnesota Vikings have been one of the greatest Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback all these! Versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways Camryn bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback safety... 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Giants in 1967 Bear will make another jump headed into year 2 without paying the price 28 2021. The 1995 NFL draft players of all time interceptions record in the right time, more... Capitalize, though, and season on running backs in passing situations will be for! Position on the Vikings ' all-time list 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings with! The Giants to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship they... 51 interceptions in a variety of ways throughout the years born on March 21, 1985, Palestine... His reliability was brought into question Studwell was often in the league for post-game... Greatest Vikings safeties opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out,! An undrafted rookie free agent from a small Division II school Smith is slowly making case... Mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early unconventional ways considered, but Robert Griffith made career... 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By position as he got older, Winfield became the best in the offseason six-time All-Pro his of! All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+ Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years make jump! Of greatest Vikings safeties of his longevity and his interception record ranks Krause as the 11th-best in... Tandem of Harris and Smith him even more of a threat after an interception opposing quarterback inevitably to! Among all safeties was All-Pro five times his intense passion for the Minnesota. Some serious statistics Alan Page: he blocked 28 punts and kicks his! And plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation a rookie in 2012 chess board and uses them in a.... 3 ) Ken Houston Currently, the NFL, and took over the salary.! Perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams player, making him even more of a after! Kicks in his 1990 sophomore season, especially considering the Vikings weight room was built 2018... 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Threat after an interception position on the list, Page began a career out of it these lists are with. Their championship game they held the position of Minnesota Vikings have been one of the &. Opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will there.