He helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl title his rookie year and followed that up with a . The Minnesota Vikings received strong reviews in both staff and facilities. Tingelhoff passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, and his dedication, skill, leadership, and stellar function as a teammate are his legacy. From 2019 to 2020, Peppers recorded 167 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits across 26 games. Niels Feijen tough bank hide with distance, against Albin Ouschan [5:09]: https://youtu.be/ptmqWFCU-FA?t=9206. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. 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. Russ Grimm 10. No pair of safeties has performed better or lifted their defense higher than the Vikings' tandem of Harris and Smith. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. The Minnesota Vikings' defense could be different at all levels in 2023, depending on how radical they decide to be when it comes to personnel changes. 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. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. 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. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . On Halloween night and the prime-time stage, he had a spook-tacular outing against his former team. The Vikings currently have seven safeties on the roster led by Harrison Smith entering his eighth season. Sonny Jurgensen 12. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. 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. The eight categories included: treatment of families, nutrition, weight room, strength staff, training room, locker room,andtravel. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/05/vikings-have-2-of-the-top-safeties-of-all-time/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. His signature face paint became part of this persona, and he played with guts and abandon that rallied his teammates and terrorized opponents.. Over his fourteen-season career, he had a 202-game starting streak, was selected for the Pro Bowl twelve consecutive times, and was nominated to the 1990s All-Decade Team. 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Best Safety Photos of 2020 View the best safety photos of the 2020 season from Vikings photographers. After combing through Minnesotas starters for each year, here are the franchises top 10 safety duos of all-time. 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. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? In addition to leading the team in tackles with eight, Woods intercepted QB Cooper Rush early in the second quarter. Acquired by Minnesota prior to training camp, he stepped right in for the Vikings. Ken Houston 15. Then check out this list of Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters. 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. Mick Tingelhoff was an undrafted free agent when he started in his rookie season with the Vikings at center, a position he maintained over his exemplary 17 seasons, and earned him recognition as one of the best the NFL has ever seen. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. 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. Sean Taylor 6. Troy Polamalu 3. The crash left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending a stellar career. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. 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. 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. L.C. 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. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. 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. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. The Commanders were at the bottom of the rankings, with the Cardinals 31st and the Chargers 30th. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. 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. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. A slight edge was given to those duos that played together the longest. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. Yet, here stands perhaps the best collection of defensive linemen the NFL will ever know. In addition to his prowess at intercepting passes, he proved his nose for the ball by recovering 19 fumbles, including 11 as a Viking). 15 Gary . 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. This week, we'll focus on safeties. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 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. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Key stats: 909 tackles, 52 INTs. 10. The Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. 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. Randall McDaniel was born December 19, 1964, in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent four years as a starter at Arizona State. Have a player you'd like to nominate? 25. His strength was the run defense, where he was the third-best league-wide at his position. The World Champion Bears in 1963 hold one of the best defenses of all-time, and of course this is probably behind a few other Bears teams. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. 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.. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. He spent fourteen years with the Vikings and played starting right tackle from his second season on.. Bynum made his second straight start against the Chargers in Week 10, and he made the most of it. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. 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. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. Its early, but I am creating the best team possible, and Anthony Barrs traits fit perfectly with this defense. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). 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. That rookie year was the highlight of his seven-year career with Minnesota. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. For his longevity and his record-breaking thievery, Paul Krause barely slips past Joey Browner as the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. 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. In addition, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota, including four in 1999. The organization ranked 7th in support of players families, with the NFLPA citing that the Vikings offered a family room and daycare. 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. 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 . Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. 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. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). 14. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. Even though he wasn't known primarily as a run-stopper, he tallied 442 tackles over his career. 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.. 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. 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.. 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. 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 . 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. Viking Cruises. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. 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. The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. 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. The safety is the last line of your team's defense, but elite talents are capable of making big plays on pass rush duties, too. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. The Minnesota Vikings continue to reshape their defensive coaching staff under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. 7. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. 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. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. Regarding food quality, the Vikings come in 9th place. NFL teams were graded on eight categories with a grading range of F to A+. Blair played his entire career with the Vikings and helped earn trips to two Super Bowls. "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. In his six years as the team's strong safety, he tallied nearly 600 tackles, including more than 100 in a season three times. The goal: assemble the scariest, most talented roster from Vikings historya group that promises to make the crowd roar without allowing a score. (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. "VALHALLA" | AGGRESSIVE Viking Battle Music Best Vikings Music Of All Time Viking Music 2021 Image: Quote from Vikings: Valhalla If there is any prob. Currently, the team is roughly $24 million over . He was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 1988 as an offensive guard. Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. 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. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. As the conquering King of England, Denmark, and Norway, Kntr (a.k.a. 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. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. 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. 1. Steve Atwater was the greatest run-support safety of all time. The course of his seven-year career with Minnesota problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER for 1st in the pass Studwell!, all Rights Reserved player, he compiled 7.5 sacks in Minnesota Vikings were for... Is new and players are happy with it played his entire career with the in... 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