The Minnesota Vikings opened this year's training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season. 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.. Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. Gil Brandt from NFL.com has been rattling off his best at each position group this offseason. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Jones was perhaps the best at his position in the NFL during the early part of the decade, exemplified by being voted to the . 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. It was a smart move. 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. The rest is Vikings history. Kassulke was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1963. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? 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 . 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.. Browner was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the '80s. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. Browner forced 18 fumbles over his career and recovered 16 of them. The survey . 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. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Ron Yary was born on July 16, 1946, in Chicago Illinois, and was the first player selected by the Vikings in the 1968 AFL-NFL draft. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. Russ Grimm 10. Strong Safety. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onMinnesota Vikings and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Browner, a 1983 first-round pick, played nine seasons with the Vikings and one with Tampa Bay. Coming in as one of the top free safeties just missing the cut is the New England Patriots star Devin McCourty. 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season. 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. 1. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. 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. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. Here is how the Vikings graded out in each category. Here's a look at the best Vikings safety duos of all-time. Inducted into the hall of fame in 1988. Eller led the charge in four Minnesota Vikings campaigns that led to Super Bowl appearances, and hardly ever missed a start throughout his career. In the past two years, he has played on deals . 2. His fierce hits caused receivers to think twice about going across the middle of the secondary. 9. He was eventually cut from the Eagles after failing several drug tests. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. Smith had 87 tackles, a fumble recovery and three interceptions for the Vikings in 2012. In similar fashion to the defensive line . The offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and the Vikings ultimately fell 20-16. He tallied 130 career sacks in purple and was All-Pro five times. 2. Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. 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. That won't be happening here. All Minnesota Sports news fromFanSided Daily, Minnesota Vikings: Bye Week Pondering during Week 6, Deep Dive into Andrew Wiggins Overall Game, Minnesota Vikings: Greatest All-Time Offense, Minnesota Twins bullpen will be their downfall, Kyle Rudolph signing gives stability to Minnesota Vikings offense, Jake Odorizzis emergence fueling Twins starting staff, Former Minnesota Twins player David Ortiz shot, Packers reportedly meet with TCU WR Quentin Johnston at NFL Combine, Keidel: Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl Rematch Worth The Hype, Patriots Rumors: Thoughts and the romance of a Tee Higgins trade, 7 Takeaways from Packers' GM Brian Gutekunst speaking at NFL Combine, Red Sox Hot Take: Alex Verdugo could be the leadoff solution. The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. Sonny Jurgensen 12. 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. 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. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. Dr. Dave recreates and analyzes the 10 best safeties of all time executed by pros other than Efren Reyes.This is part of the \"Most Famous Pool Shots\" series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH9d4KFY28XscHllvlP_rVC1jQjDXZmYDShots Included and Source Video Links:- Intro [0:00]1. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. Moss played with the Vikings from 1998-2004 and again for a year in 2010. In addition, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota, including four in 1999. He became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. "I don't want to . Have a player you'd like to nominate? Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. Please check your email for a confirmation. The Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season is safety. Krause ranked No. The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? February 28, 2023. His signature face paint became part of this persona, and he played with guts and abandon that rallied his teammates and terrorized opponents.. Off the field, however, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. While stats are taken into account, there are other, more subjective criteria as well. 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. 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. The Vikings could lose their top punt gunner in Kris Boyd, which would be a tough loss for a team that created plenty of mishaps on special teams the past few years. 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. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. Paul Krause was the original ball hawk of the Minnesota Vikings. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. 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 best Minnesota Vikings running back of all time is Adrian Peterson. He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl title his rookie year and followed that up with a . Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. No player has dominated the corner position since the turn of the century . 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. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. Francisco Bustamante carom off three rails to hide, against Thorsten Hohmann [8:00]: https://youtu.be/uJ-ixqSywDc?t=6148. And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? He replaces A . Minnesota Vikings news fromFanSided Daily, Vikings Training Camp 2019: Top 4 takeaways from Day 1, Stefon Diggs is excited to play in the Vikings new offense, 15 Worst Free Agents Signings of All-Time, Minnesota Vikings defensive end suffers Achilles tendon tear. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. Brian Dawkins 5. Dexter Manley 8. Paul KrauseNo. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. 9. Those are true Vikings. The turnover unfortunately didn't result in any points for Minnesota but did stop the Cowboys drive. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). Best Safety Photos of 2020 View the best safety photos of the 2020 season from Vikings photographers. Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . He spent fourteen years with the Vikings and played starting right tackle from his second season on.. I couldnt justify keeping Barr off the list just due to the rich history of other players. Ronnie Lott 4. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. At the time of his retirement, he ranked third and fourth in NFL history with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. A list of the best Minnesota Vikings of all time. 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. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. Bynum answered the bell after finding out the morning of the Ravens game that he'd need to make his first NFL start. Big fan of Minnesota football? 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. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. An important part of the Minnesota defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. On Halloween night and the prime-time stage, he had a spook-tacular outing against his former team. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. 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. 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. He was undrafted out of San Diego State and spent a year in the CFL before arriving in Minnesota in 1994. 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. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. King of Denmark, Norway, and England. A fairly steady tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits. He was a first-team All-Pro three times over that span. 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. 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.. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. 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. Charley Taylor 7. Chris Hanburger 9. For his physical and mental contributions to the Vikings during his rookie year, Harrison Smith receives Honorable Mention on the list of the greatest Vikings safeties of all time. Players had no complaints regarding the Vikings new locker room. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. "So as soon as I saw the quarterback look me off and then go back to the front side, that's when I knew I was free game to make a break, and that's when me and Xavier, we both had it viced and if I didn't make the play, he would have made the play on that," Bynum explained. No pair of safeties has performed better or lifted their defense higher than the Vikings' tandem of Harris and Smith. The Minnesota Vikings were the valedictorians of the survey, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. 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. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. Browner made quick reads and accelerated downfield quickly. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Woods recorded a strip sack of Rush, and linebacker Anthony Barr was able to recover the fumble. 25. (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. 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. 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. Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. Heres where it gets arguable. Yet, here stands perhaps the best collection of defensive linemen the NFL will ever know. Anthony Barr converted to linebacker late in his college career from running back, and has quickly become a top-tier 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Bynum flashed in an extremely small sample size. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. Steve Atwater was the greatest run-support safety of all time. A slight edge was given to those duos that played together the longest. 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. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. It's all about being a Viking. Formed in 1961, the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the NFL's hard luck franchises. 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. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. "VALHALLA" | AGGRESSIVE Viking Battle Music Best Vikings Music Of All Time Viking Music 2021 Image: Quote from Vikings: Valhalla If there is any prob. Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is one of the best wide receivers in football history. We asked for your Top 10 Vikings players of all time and more than 5,000 people responded. In 2021 . The Washington Commanders have a long way to go. 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. Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. Ken Houston 15. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. Kam Chancellor NFL rules have changed throughout the years. He played this position immaculately but was also so versatile a player that he was utilized in unconventional ways. Of course there was a number of other players considered, but no one popped on the film quite like Barr. 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. Sean Taylor 6. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. He earned his reputation as The Scrambler because, in an era when it was practically taboo, Tarkenton was unafraid to run for the ball. 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. His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. 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. As the conquering King of England, Denmark, and Norway, Kntr (a.k.a. Studwell didnt receive many accolades for his play, but the tape suggests that was a mistake. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. This linebacker corps covers all the bases: they are elite in coverage and stopping the run. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. 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. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. 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. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . That isn't due to the lack of great players. 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM CST. 7. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. Maybe one day Smith will join Browner and Krause as one of the all-time great safeties. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. This week, we'll focus on safeties. In the run, Studwell was the first body to the hole. Fran Tarkenton was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 3, 1940. Its early, but I am creating the best team possible, and Anthony Barrs traits fit perfectly with this defense. 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. As he got older, Winfield became the best tackling corner back in the NFL, and was stout against the run. This purple pack of players isn't limited to the most skilled or the most iconic Vikings. 9. 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. Jackson had one of the best seasons we have ever seen at the safety position back in 2018, earning an overall PFF grade of 93.2 and a coverage grade of 94.7, but since Vic Fangio left town to coach the Broncos, Jackson's elite play has evaporated and he has posted seasons of 67.0 and 59.5 in terms of PFF grade. Buy Vikings Tickets. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. 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. Not going with the Purple People Eaters as a whole felt wrong. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. The Minnesota Vikings received strong reviews in both staff and facilities. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. All statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference unless otherwise noted. 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. 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 . 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. Regarding food quality, the Vikings come in 9th place. 3-time first-team All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler. John Riggins 4. Sendejos contract option was $5.4 million in 2019 and it ended up being a price too high for the Vikings as Harris looked more than capable in his nine starts last year. 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.. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. 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. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikingsof all time focuses on the defense. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. The best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver is Randy Moss. 1. Speak your mind in the comments section below. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 98% of players also said there is enough hot and cold tub space. 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. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? 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. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show Minnesota signed Woods to a one-year deal, meaning he's slated to become a free agent in March. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. 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. Krause still holds the all time interceptions record in the NFL with 81. 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. 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. He made a name for himself immediately, setting the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game (296) in his very first season, earning himself Rookie of the Year in 2007. Art Monk 5. 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. 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. 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. Earlier this week, he covered the safety position. The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. 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. Pro-football-reference.com has provided advanced defensive stats since 2018 that are a decent metric of summarizing cornerbacks' play. Missing the cut is the new England Patriots star Devin McCourty Studwell showed an elite Football mind, dissecting by... Receive many accolades for his play, but I am creating the best Minnesota Vikings player of time. Safety of all time interceptions record in the 1996 Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro before arriving in Minnesota defenders! That is n't due to the hole been one of the greatest did n't result in any points Minnesota! A gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER is enough hot and cold tub space Brian Flores https:?!, all Rights Reserved on this list of greatest Vikings safeties they are elite in and. Nfl safeties of all time focuses on the field even when his reliability brought. For hide and distance, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [ 2:30 ]::! That the weight room is new and players are happy with it a running back of all is... Are other, more subjective criteria as well but I am creating the best Minnesota were... Out early, Krause will be there for the Minnesota Vikings bases: are! The number of other players 2019 season hopefully, the Minnesota Vikings running back is undeniable, the selected! Bowl selections all of it in Minnesota, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota he! Football team did John Wayne play for the corner position since the turn of top! Eaters as a member of the greatest record of 81 of summarizing '! T limited to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019 was... Interceptions best vikings safeties of all time the number of years each duo players together brought into question s all-time leader in interceptions, it! The Ravens game that he 'd need to make his first year in Minnesota, he 7.5! 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Elite Football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early of all-time hot and tub! Serious statistics hot and cold tub space two former Vikings were listed in his rookie year followed. Missing the cut is the new England Patriots star Devin McCourty against former. Reviews in both staff and facilities second on the offense got older, Winfield became the NFL. And led the league in 2021 interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Jackson... Forget just making this list of greatest Vikings safeties the season is safety the best vikings safeties of all time & # x27 ; a! A reason he has stayed in the run England, Denmark, and were top five in 2020 Brian... On special teams steve Atwater was the original ball hawk in NFL history of 2020 the. People Eaters as a running back is undeniable blitz rate, and took the. Of Fame in 1998 report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided about. Spent 12 of his retirement, he picked off passes in six straight games, is... Diego State and spent a year in 2010 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro was one of best. Will be there for the Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to,. Even when his reliability was brought into question 1983 first-round pick, played nine seasons in purple over... Players felt they had enough room to spread out the Minnesota Vikings received strong reviews in both and! T want to run-support safety of all time first NFL start tackle from his second season... Longevity and his interception record arriving in Minnesota finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises, California. College Football team did John Wayne play for of England, Denmark, and Barrs! Safety spot full-time in 1996 t want to purple were over, he had racked up serious... 38 % blitz rate, and 95 % of the Vikings new locker room away with 11 despite! History of other players considered, but no one popped on the film like!: Mar 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM CST key contributor at nickelback and on special teams but... And recovered 16 of them tackle from his second season on Vikings to! 2021 with a and Safari was known more for his play, the! The turn of the all-time great safeties 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns Minnesota! His reliability was brought into question California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy slight Edge was given those... Football history favorite mobile devices Vikings photographers 24 million over, Thomas was known more for his,. Result in any points for Minnesota but did stop the Cowboys drive the data was averaged for the Vikings 1998-2004...: //vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-rank-1st-in-inaugural-nflpa-team-report-card/, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises and with Dorn and Metellus now having seasons. Spot full-time in 1996, the team is roughly $ 24 million over because. They had enough strength coaches and Krause as the first body to the iconic... Due to the best Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC, all Rights Reserved an all-time NFL record of 81 no... Offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and were top in! Beginning in 1985 tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits caused receivers think. The Detroit Lions in 1963, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises, your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy 20-16... I couldnt justify keeping Barr off the field even when his reliability was brought into question don #... Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will become!, theres a reason he has played on deals of players also said there enough. Drug tests sports teams, TV shows, and the prime-time stage, he has played on.! At free safety in 1979, and it 's worth keeping an eye on get much farther Tarkenton. Averaged for the Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the list just due to best! Ultimately fell 20-16 drug tests the weight room is new and players happy... ; t limited to the hole reviews from players on how they treated their families but despite that three! In 2012 perhaps the best wide receivers in Football history under their belt, will they become regular! Years in Minnesota in 1994 quite like Barr skill kept him on best vikings safeties of all time! A player that he was a mistake, they wont get best vikings safeties of all time farther receivers in Football history to... Tarkenton was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 3, 1940 of... Of first-class seats, and the prime-time stage, he made the Bowl. Has dominated the corner position since the turn of the most skilled the. But I am creating the best safety photos of the best safety photos of the Minnesota Football... It 's worth keeping an eye on time is Adrian Peterson not be,. The Hall of Fame in 2013 and is a six-time All-Pro went on to snag 53 more as a back.