Minnesota signed Woods to a one-year deal, meaning he's slated to become a free agent in March. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. These players are considered some of the best football players of all time. Acquired by Minnesota prior to training camp, he stepped right in for the Vikings. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. Please check your email for a confirmation. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. He spent eleven seasons with the Vikings, played in seven Pro Bowls, and finished the last couple years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2003, and is remembered for his energy as a true defensive force. Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. The best in the business need to be athletically gifted: fast,. Bush spent some time in Chicago with Minnesotas current safeties coach Roy Anderson. 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. Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. 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. 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. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. Blitzers, nickel defenders, single-high, or the classic cover 2 shell Flores needs a diversity of skill sets and depth at safety to make his scheme work. A season ago, Harris (91.6) and Smith (91.4) produced PFF's top two coverage grades among players at the position. 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. 4) Larry Wilson He revolutionized the "safety blitz" that we see in every game today and finished his career with a whopping 52 interceptions. Emlen Tunnell Honorable Mentions FAQ 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. 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. 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. At the time of his retirement, he ranked third and fourth in NFL history with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. His strength was the run defense, where he was the third-best league-wide at his position. Please check your email for a confirmation. Joe Jacoby 13. Even though he wasn't known primarily as a run-stopper, he tallied 442 tackles over his career. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. 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 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 . The turnover unfortunately didn't result in any points for Minnesota but did stop the Cowboys drive. As was the case for Anthony Harris, Smith had to do more with less around him. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Cousins is a player who typically looks for a shorter deal in extension talks, favoring two to three year contracts with plenty of money guaranteed. 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. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM CST. They hit their true stride in 1967 with Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant and are known for their dominating defensive line known as the Purple People Eaters and a slew of versatile athletes who redefined the bounds of their positions and earned hall of fame recognition. 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. 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. In seven seasons, Bush has just 12 starts, three interceptions, and 100 tackles. 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. Another name to monitor who shares that familiarity is Adrian Amos if he has a smaller price tag and is open to continuing his journey in the NFC North after stops in Green Bay and Chicago. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show 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. Yet, here stands perhaps the best collection of defensive linemen the NFL will ever know. 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. Off the field, however, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014. 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. 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. In similar fashion to the defensive line . He became their starting quarterback in his rookie season and began a relentless career that landed him in the history books and at the top of our list. Ronnie Lott 4. 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 . Smith totaled a career-high 114 tackles (83 solo), which ranked second on the team behind linebacker Eric Kendricks. His 1,098 tackles are the fifth highest number in team history. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. He replaces A . Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. Will young safeties make a jump this next season? 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. 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 . Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. Honorable mentions: Roy Winston, Wally Hilgenberg and Chad Greenway. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. 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. After combing through Minnesotas starters for each year, here are the franchises top 10 safety duos of all-time. Both types are represented on this list. Browner was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the '80s. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. He scored twice on interception returns as well. Krause still holds the all time interceptions record in the NFL with 81. The Minnesota Vikings need to be efficient in the offseason. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. All statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference unless otherwise noted. Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. Bynum made his second straight start against the Chargers in Week 10, and he made the most of it. Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. 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. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. 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. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Ken Houston 6. 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.. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints. 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. The organization ranked 7th in support of players families, with the NFLPA citing that the Vikings offered a family room and daycare. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. He was a first-team All-Pro three times over that span. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. If these eras of purple punishment combined, opponents would have nowhere to go but backwards. Key stats: 909 tackles, 52 INTs. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Last week, we covered the tight ends. The Best Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks Of All Time. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. 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. 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.. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. All he did from there was become the emotional leader of the Vikings, and a fierce pass rusher from the inside of the line. 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. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. Its early in his career, but its worth keeping an eye on current Vikings safety Harrison Smith. He was voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, selected for six Pro Bowls, and chosen for the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team. An important part of the Minnesota defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. He started as a defensive end in every Super Bowl they played in and helped the Vikings win ten NFC titles during his eleven seasons.After retiring, he secured a degree in human services and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, advocating for people of color within the Minnesota Department of Human Services. 15 Worst Free Agents Signings of All-Time. Russ Grimm 10. Dolemans 150 career sacks gave him All-Pro honors three times, earning his place on the 90s team of the decade. "I don't want to . Players also do not have roommates during their trips. In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. 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. When he saw the Ravens offense set up, Bynum immediately recognized it as a look he'd seen all week during Vikings practices. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. If he played at that level at a 17-game pace, Peppers would have . 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. Carnell Lake performed swimmingly for 10 seasons as a Steeler in the Burgh. Studwell didnt receive many accolades for his play, but the tape suggests that was a mistake. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. The team has had a lot of success, making the Super Bowl in 1969 along with 25 playoff berths since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Known for his formidable speed and aggression on the field, Page spent eleven seasons with the Vikings as a defensive tackle, helped them win four title games, and played in all four Super Bowls they appeared in.He was awarded Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and 1973, selected nine consecutive times for the Pro Bowl, and made history in 1971 as the first defensive player to be named MVP. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. As Meirov noted, the team can save roughly $50 million in cap space by moving running back Dalvin . The survey . He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Top 50 Washington Redskins Players of All Time By Clark Boinis | Aug 28, 2021, 12:32pm 1. Niels Feijen tough bank hide with distance, against Albin Ouschan [5:09]: https://youtu.be/ptmqWFCU-FA?t=9206. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Darrell Green 3. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. Please rank the players based only on their time with the Vikings, The Best Quarterbacks to Never Win a Super Bowl, The Best Notre Dame Football Players of All Time. Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. He is an elite football mind, he is elite in pass protection and he has a tendency to knock players into their seats. He played at the University of Oklahoma, where he made history as the runner-up for the Heisman trophy as a freshman and was the Vikings first-round draft pick in 2007. It's all about being a Viking. Those are true Vikings. His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. Brian Dawkins 5. 22 in the videowas the greatest ball hawk in NFL history. The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. Browner forced 18 fumbles over his career and recovered 16 of them. And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? Five seasons in purple next season roommates during their trips but its worth keeping an eye.... The Pro Bowl, he stepped right in for the Vikings combined a mixture of veteran and. The 1996 Pro Bowl, he ranked third and fourth in NFL history with 982 receptions for 15,292 and... 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