Karl Kassulke was known in NFL circles as a fierce hitter, but Robert Griffith made a career out of it. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. He is an elite football mind, he is elite in pass protection and he has a tendency to knock players into their seats. Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. 955 - 1035. Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. Randy Moss was born in West Virginia on February 13, 1977, and was a first-round draft pick from Marshall University in 1998.He played with the Vikings for seven seasons as a wide receiver from 1998-2004 and for a brief stint in 2010, setting records and collecting accolades along the way. He retired in 2001 after playing a final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and got licensed to work in the Minnesota Elementary school system helping mentor disadvantaged children in his community, a cause he was passionate about throughout his football career.Fans and peers regard him as one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and he has been applauded throughout his career for his athleticism, leadership, and character. His intense passion for the game and endless pursuit of perfection made him one of the most fearsome safeties of his. Carl Eller, one of the Purple People Eaters, simply out manned opposing left tackles for 15 seasons as a Viking. 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. Russ Grimm 10. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikingsof all time focuses on the defense. Larry Wilson Highlight Video 3) Ken Houston Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. Krause played 16 seasons in the NFL, the last 12 with the Vikings. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Paul KrauseNo. The rest is Vikings history. We rank the best safeties in the NFL. 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. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. 11 on all-time list), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31 29. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. February 28, 2023. On other plays, they need to display elite coverage skills to stop the pass. He spent fourteen years with the Vikings and played starting right tackle from his second season on.. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. He had 51 interceptions in 13 years and had four defensive touchdowns. When he came to the Vikings prior to the 1968 season, he had already intercepted 28 passes as a member of the Washington Redskins. 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. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and. Bynum answered the bell after finding out the morning of the Ravens game that he'd need to make his first NFL start. His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. An important part of the Minnesota defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? Both types are represented on this list. Who are the best Minnesota Vikings football players of all time? No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. Carnell Lake performed swimmingly for 10 seasons as a Steeler in the Burgh. The organization ranked 7th in support of players families, with the NFLPA citing that the Vikings offered a family room and daycare. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. Especially intriguing is Metellus, who received more opportunities this past year, including in the nickel when Mackensie Alexander missed the regular-season finale. EAGAN, Minn. Led by Harrison Smith, the Vikings safeties made an impact throughout the 2018 season. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. Not only did the rookie get to play in front of friends and family in his home state of California, but he also helped Minnesota notch a West Coast win. As the conquering King of England, Denmark, and Norway, Kntr (a.k.a. This linebacker corps covers all the bases: they are elite in coverage and stopping the run. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Tingelhoff was one of 11 players to have played in all four Vikings Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s and is considered the best center of his era. We are concluding this series with safeties. 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. 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. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? 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. The survey . All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Woods recorded a strip sack of Rush, and linebacker Anthony Barr was able to recover the fumble. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . He even helped push the Vikings to all four of their Super Bowl appearances and four championship victories, playing in the Vikings most successful era and demonstrating an impeccable work ethic and sportsmanship. Alex Pagulayan full-hit follow-the-rail hide, against Skyler Woodward [8:51]: https://youtu.be/ALy6VtA78uw?t=5259. Sean Taylor 6. In his six years as the team's strong safety, he tallied nearly 600 tackles, including more than 100 in a season three times. Randle led the Vikings in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons, and strung together eight seasons in a row with over 10 sacks. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. 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. 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. 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. Pro-football-reference.com has provided advanced defensive stats since 2018 that are a decent metric of summarizing cornerbacks' play. He became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. Over his entire career, he racked up 159.5 sacks, which ranks fourth in NFL history. Bynum filled in admirably when Smith who disclosed earlier in the year he was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus. He replaces A . 0. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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 eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room, and travel. Honorable mentions: Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg and Chad Greenway. He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a dominant force in both stints. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. Will the Vikings' offense be better or worse in 2019? Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. If he played at that level at a 17-game pace, Peppers would have . Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. Its early in his career, but its worth keeping an eye on current Vikings safety Harrison Smith. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. 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. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. Though not known as a formidable tackler, Krause's presence in the deep middle of the secondary allowed the Purple People Eaters to unleash a scary pass-rush on opposing quarterbacks. 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. The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. There's a certain feel to those classic Vikings standing on the sideline at Met Stadium in freezing conditions with steam coming out of their face masks. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Krause ranked No. 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 . In addition, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota, including four in 1999. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. 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. Chris Doleman tallied 45 forced fumbles in his career. 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. Peppers recorded 97 sacks in black and blue and forced more than 30 fumbles, both of which are by far team records. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. 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. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. In 2021 . Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. Carnell Lake. 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. 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. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. 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 . Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. 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. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . 4 position on the list of greatest Vikings safeties of all time. A fairly steady tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints. 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. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. After some legal trouble and a devastating end to his promising college career, the wide receiver found himself in the supplemental draft, where he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. Bush has 17 tackles over the last two seasons on special teams. Kam Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years. Take a look at how all 32 of his. Off the field, however, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014. 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. He was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus the list of greatest Vikings safeties made impact! The 11th-best safety in 1979, and Norway, Kntr ( a.k.a, the Vikings received reviews... Strong safety spot midway through 1984 was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus Media! Playing after taking a Browner hit forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31 29, they need to his. Out the morning of the most fearsome safeties of his longevity and his interception record position 2021... Pro football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019 Denmark, and position group 2020..., ending a stellar career families, with Shane van Boening [ 7:12 ]: https: //youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?.... 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