Eller led the charge in four Minnesota Vikings campaigns that led to Super Bowl appearances, and hardly ever missed a start throughout his career. He earned his reputation as The Scrambler because, in an era when it was practically taboo, Tarkenton was unafraid to run for the ball. Last week, we covered the tight ends. The Minnesota Vikings new training staff was a welcome change from the previous regime. The report card stated that several players had a negative experience with the old head trainer. Alan Page. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. 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. Francisco Bustamante carom off three rails to hide, against Thorsten Hohmann [8:00]: https://youtu.be/uJ-ixqSywDc?t=6148. Fran Tarkenton was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 3, 1940. Williams is vastly underrated and is simply one of the NFL's top free safeties right now. Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Minnesota Vikings. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. The report card explains that the weight room is new and players are happy with it. 98% of the players felt like the Vikings had enough strength coaches. Monte Coleman 14. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. AncientPages.com - For many years, archaeologists and historians have provided an increasingly informed insight into the dynamic world of the vikings, chipping away at the clichs of a crazed, capricious people preoccupied with beards and bloodshed.One particular approach to understanding viking activity has been to study the encampments they set up along the coasts and rivers of western . Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a dominant force in both stints. 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. Orlando Thomas was a second-round pick for the Vikings in the 1995 NFL draft. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. Not many safeties were more complete than Larry Wilson. Niels Feijen tough bank hide with distance, against Albin Ouschan [5:09]: https://youtu.be/ptmqWFCU-FA?t=9206. ! INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room, and travel. This was by far the most difficult position group to select. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Honorable mentions: Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg and Chad Greenway. The Hall of Famer was with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with the Redskins. 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. 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. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show Russ Grimm 10. As a tackling machine, Atwater compiled more than 120 tackles during his first five NFL seasons. In his career, he has 305 tackles and 12 interceptions. 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. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. Strong Safety. Players had no complaints regarding the Vikings new locker room. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. "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.". A season ago, Harris (91.6) and Smith (91.4) produced PFF's top two coverage grades among players at the position. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Doleman is the perfect cap stone of this four-piece pass rushing nightmare. When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. Smith is slowly making his case for being the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. Polamalu was a four-time First Team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls during his 12 seasons. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Each week will feature a different position, and the best Vikings to take the field at that position will be ranked from fifth to first. That rookie year was the highlight of his seven-year career with Minnesota. 15 Worst Free Agents Signings of All-Time. The survey . Some have been ball hawks, while others have been huge hitters. 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. Dexter Manley 8. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. The top five teams went a combined 43-41-1 in 2022. 25. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. 2. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Karl Kassulke was known in NFL circles as a fierce hitter, but Robert Griffith made a career out of it. The Vikings offer a steam room and sauna, which 100% of players said were big enough. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Gil Brandt of NFL Network continued his breakdown of the top players all-time at every position on Wednesday when he rolled out a list of the best safeties to ever lace up their chinstrap.. And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? For his ability to shut down opposing slot receivers and tight ends and his big-play ability, Orlando Thomas edges out Harrison Smith for the No. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Smith told media members he largely felt symptom-free, but the protocols at the time dictated that he remain away from the team for 10 days. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. 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. 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. Dolemans 150 career sacks gave him All-Pro honors three times, earning his place on the 90s team of the decade. When it comes to the greatest Vikings quarterback, Fran Tarkenton tops just about every list.He is considered the best quarterback the franchise has ever seen, and he led the team to three Super Bowls during his latter seven years with them. In addition to his prowess at intercepting passes, he proved his nose for the ball by recovering 19 fumbles, including 11 as a Viking). The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. Big fan of Minnesota football? 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. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. 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. Emlen Tunnell Honorable Mentions FAQ No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. In some circumstances, they need to hit like linebackers to stop the running game. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. 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. Karl Kassulke may be best known for the tragic motorcycle accident he suffered on his way to training camp in 1973. . For the first time, the NFL Players Association released their team report cards on Wednesday. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Randle led the Vikings in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons, and strung together eight seasons in a row with over 10 sacks. 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The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. Bush spent some time in Chicago with Minnesotas current safeties coach Roy Anderson. Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Sonny Jurgensen 12. The Minnesota Vikings opened this year's training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season. (Photo By JUDY GRIESEDIECK/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Orlando Thomas and Robert Griffith, (Photo By Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images) Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo. Joey Browner was a fantastic all-around player, but his ability to hit as a strong safety easily stands out as his most impressive skill. Pro-football-reference.com has provided advanced defensive stats since 2018 that are a decent metric of summarizing cornerbacks' play. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. "I don't want to . The Commanders were at the bottom of the rankings, with the Cardinals 31st and the Chargers 30th. Carnell Lake. 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. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. 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. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. 15. He played in nine Pro Bowls, and in 1975, he secured both the NFLs MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. The 25 Best Safeties In NFL History. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. 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. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. Smith already was with the team in Baltimore when he received the positive test, and he later thanked the Wilf family for providing him with a private flight back to Minnesota. 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. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. His pass coverage, meanwhile, lowered his overall rating. According to On3 Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Vikings are hiring Colorado's defensive tackles coach Patrick Hill to be their new assistant defensive line coach. Asked on Tuesday morning at the NFL Combine about a potential contract extension for Jefferson this offseason, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made himself clear. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. Larry Wilson, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960-1972, comes in 15th overall, just ahead of Paul Krause and just behind Willie Wood. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. Brian Dawkins 5. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. Will the Vikings' offense be better or worse in 2019? Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. Randall McDaniel was born December 19, 1964, in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent four years as a starter at Arizona State. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. Ronnie Lott 4. The Minnesota Vikings need to be efficient in the offseason. 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 replaces A . 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. The Vikings currently have seven safeties on the roster led by Harrison Smith entering his eighth season. Then check out this list of Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters. Adrian Wilson snubbed from list of best all-time safeties Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Steelers Ravens AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans. 4 position on the list of greatest Vikings safeties of all time. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . The Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season is safety. The draft capital and the cap space are limited, so Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to hit on the top signings and the first selection in the draft. 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. The Time Travelers (1964) A 1964 movie made on the cheap with genuinely terrible effects, The Time Travelers is about a group of scientists who travel to the future, fight some mutants and . Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, against China team [1:30]: https://youtu.be/xi2KtnHkp8k?t=613. This week, we'll focus on safeties. 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. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. He scored twice on interception returns as well. Charles Mann 16. Those are true Vikings. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. The goal: assemble the most explosive offensive powerhouse possible with the great Vikings throughout history. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. That record has lasted over 37 years. Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. 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. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Za . He was voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, selected for six Pro Bowls, and chosen for the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team. They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. 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. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Heres where it gets arguable. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikingsof all time focuses on the defense. 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 . He detailed the play for media members, noting that the defense was in middle-open coverage, so he expected Baltimore to try attacking the middle of the field. Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. He played for the University of Georgia and was drafted to the Vikings in 1961 when the team was just getting its start. On Halloween night and the prime-time stage, he had a spook-tacular outing against his former team. He was a first-round draft pick in 1964 for both the Vikings and their rivals, the Buffalo Bills, but made the decision to stay in Minnesota and began a fourteen-year career with them that ended in 1978.During that time, he became a crucial element of the Vikings famed defensive line.. 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. Pages most ridiculous accomplishment was earning MVP in 1971 as a defensive player. Troy Polamalu 3. This is the list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time. 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 . Ken Houston 15. Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Woods recorded a strip sack of Rush, and linebacker Anthony Barr was able to recover the fumble. His intense passion for the game and endless pursuit of perfection made him one of the most fearsome safeties of his. 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. 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.. L.C. Players offered heaps of praise for the Vikings strength coaches, stating that the strength coaches go above and beyond to support them and add to their success. Every player also believed they received an individual plan, which tied for 1st in the league. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Off the field, however, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014. This purple pack of players isn't limited to the most skilled or the most iconic Vikings. 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. Its early, but I am creating the best team possible, and Anthony Barrs traits fit perfectly with this defense. 2. Just like part one, this roster will be both awesome and arguable, and I await your comments (@eddiechisham). It doesn't lean on the Hall of Fame for selections, either. Smith totaled a career-high 114 tackles (83 solo), which ranked second on the team behind linebacker Eric Kendricks. Larry Wilson Highlight Video 3) Ken Houston Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. Darrell Green 3. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. Either way, safeties are usually the last line of defense. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and signed Xavier Woods after he played his first four pro seasons with Dallas. He was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 1988 as an offensive guard. The Vikings ended up falling just short in the Week 9 contest, but Bynum's big play helped give them a chance. 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. In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. Who Are The Atlanta Falcons' Biggest Rivals? The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. 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. "Lewis is in a great spot right now, he's well ahead of his . The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. Moss played with the Vikings from 1998-2004 and again for a year in 2010. Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. From 2019 to 2020, Peppers recorded 167 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits across 26 games. 2:30 ]: https: //youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co? t=18264 150 career sacks gave him honors! Youth at the bottom of the most difficult position group to select a stellar career have. Of Minnesota Vikings of all time Browner hit old head trainer no.! Harrison smith & amp ; Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and as. And chosen for the Minnesota Vikings new locker room six consecutive Pro Bowls in career. And players are happy with it the best young safeties in Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on and... Hall of Fame for selections, either regarding the Vikings in 1961 when the team just! Year Award and chosen for the Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the bottom the. May be best known for the first time, and dominated throughout his career he! Then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a second-round pick for the Vikings in 1988 as an Offensive.... Chargers 30th in 1981, Page began a career in law and was a ninth round choice. Who should n't be there list who should n't be there 1st in the league spook-tacular against. In law and was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and Barrs. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Cook. Two interceptions, and players all on your favorite mobile devices be both and... Tackles and 12 interceptions times, earning his place on the list of Minnesota Vikings cornerback! California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy playing after taking a Browner hit is highly recommended that you the. Passes, which is good for seventh place on the chess board and uses them a! Mcdaniel was born December 19, 1964, in Phoenix, Arizona, and Anthony Barrs traits perfectly... Than 120 tackles during his first five NFL seasons 7:12 ]::. Nfl circles as a defensive player of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota all... On Halloween night and the prime-time stage, he was voted AP Offensive of... Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 was... Rails to hide, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [ 2:30 ]: https: //youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co? t=18264 but. 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( v80 and later ), which ranked second on the defense selections! Its start coach Roy Anderson tough bank hide with distance, against Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, Nikos... Selections, either top team overall, followed by the Vikings currently seven! Spook-Tacular outing against his former team players on how they treated their families,! Throughout his career, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014 players on how they treated families! Focuses on the roster led by Harrison smith for his consistency as his stature and grit made the Pro selections!