Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, The Vikings have time to re-sign Tomlinson and lessen the cap hit. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. 8. 10. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. 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. While he managed 19 interceptions over his career, his ferocious tackling made him a vital component of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. 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. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. Francisco Bustamante carom off three rails to hide, against Thorsten Hohmann [8:00]: https://youtu.be/uJ-ixqSywDc?t=6148. 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. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. Browner, a 1983 first-round pick, played nine seasons with the Vikings and one with Tampa Bay. 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. He was undrafted out of San Diego State and spent a year in the CFL before arriving in Minnesota in 1994. 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 returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns, demonstrating his knack for making big plays. His pass coverage, meanwhile, lowered his overall rating. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). 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. He retired at the peak of his career in 1978 and held every significant NFL passing record, and still ranks in the top ten for many. After combing through Minnesotas starters for each year, here are the franchises top 10 safety duos of all-time. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. 11 on all-time list), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31 29. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. The offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and the Vikings ultimately fell 20-16. 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. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. Buy Vikings Tickets. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. He attacks the ball in the air exceptionally well with great range and angles. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. Check in next week for the next power ranking of all-time Vikings. That rookie year was the highlight of his seven-year career with Minnesota. Bush spent some time in Chicago with Minnesotas current safeties coach Roy Anderson. Smith totaled a career-high 114 tackles (83 solo), which ranked second on the team behind linebacker Eric Kendricks. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. Paul Krause was the original ball hawk of the Minnesota Vikings. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. Three Seahawks named among NFL.com's 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. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . In addition, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota, including four in 1999. Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is one of the best wide receivers in football history. Randle led the Vikings in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons, and strung together eight seasons in a row with over 10 sacks. 4 position on the list of greatest Vikings safeties of all time. Blair played his entire career with the Vikings and helped earn trips to two Super Bowls. 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. Additionally, his ball-hawking ways helped solidify a pass defense that faces brutal competition every week in the pass-happy NFC North. Have a player you'd like to nominate? 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. In his six years as the team's strong safety, he tallied nearly 600 tackles, including more than 100 in a season three times. This was by far the most difficult position group to select. 9. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. The organization ranked 7th in support of players families, with the NFLPA citing that the Vikings offered a family room and daycare. 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. Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. 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. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 25. 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 . Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. Art Monk 5. Karl Kassulke may be best known for the tragic motorcycle accident he suffered on his way to training camp in 1973. 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. 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. 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 . The criteria used includes games started, interceptions and fumble recoveries, touchdowns scored, and their approximate value (AV) assigned by Pro Football Reference. The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. Both types are represented on this list. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. 14. 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. As a result, he was selected for the second-team All-NFC for his performance. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. Need I say more? 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 . 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. The Vikings weathered another season of COVID-19 protocols and called on Bynum to step in as a starter in Weeks 9 and 10 after Smith tested positive on the morning of Minnesota's game in Baltimore. 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 25 Best Safeties In NFL History. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . 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. 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. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. The Washington Commanders have a long way to go. It doesn't lean on the Hall of Fame for selections, either. What many fans don't realize is that he played for 10 years prior to the accident. Best Safety Photos of 2020 View the best safety photos of the 2020 season from Vikings photographers. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. 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. 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. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 15 Gary . If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. It includes every starting cornerback from throughout Minnesota Vikings history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. Please check your email for a confirmation. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. 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. The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room,andtravel. His 1,098 tackles are the fifth highest number in team history. He played with the Vikings from 2007 to 2016, barring a brief suspension in 2014 when he pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor reckless assault against his then-four-year-old son. He played ten seasons with the Vikings, made over 1,400 yards in a season three different times, won MVP in 2012, and played in seven Pro Bowls. For the first time, the NFL Players Association released their team report cards on Wednesday. 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Heres where it gets arguable. For his outstanding performance throughout most of the '80s and his high rankings in the Vikings record books, Joey Browner outdistances Robert Griffith for second place on the list of great Minnesota safeties. Mario He jump safe, against Bashar Hussain [0:35]: https://youtu.be/8l22PVMLcds?t=20992. In the run, Studwell was the first body to the hole. 9. Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. Brian Bahr/Allsport. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. 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. Not many safeties were more complete than Larry Wilson. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/05/vikings-have-2-of-the-top-safeties-of-all-time/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 2. The Vikings currently have seven safeties on the roster led by Harrison Smith entering his eighth season. Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? 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.. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. Take a look at how all 32 of his. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. That record has lasted over 37 years. 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