"I don't want to . No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. His overall total in Minnesota was 635 tackles. The Minnesota Vikings new training staff was a welcome change from the previous regime. The report card stated that several players had a negative experience with the old head trainer. Brian Dawkins 5. He made the Pro Bowl following the 1970 season. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. 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. It includes every starting cornerback from throughout Minnesota Vikings history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. While he earned a reputation for his tumultuous personal life and numerous legal battles, his formidable speed, athleticism, and talent are undeniable. 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. Darren Appleton hide behind small ball with distance, with Mark Gray [3:27]: https://youtu.be/w8DF4lqN6IQ?t=23955. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. Randall McDaniel was born December 19, 1964, in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent four years as a starter at Arizona State. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. The Minnesota Vikings continue to reshape their defensive coaching staff under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. 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. 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. Monte Coleman 14. Cris Carter was born November 25, 1965, in Troy, Ohio, and played college ball at Ohio State University. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. Kassulke was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1963. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. 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. Larry Wilson Highlight Video 3) Ken Houston Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. 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. He attacks the ball in the air exceptionally well with great range and angles. Speak your mind in the comments section below. Also among the position group were 2020 additions Josh Metellus (sixth round) and Myles Dorn (undrafted). Bynum certainly showed promise in his first season, especially considering the Vikings converted him from cornerback. We are concluding this series with safeties. Best Safety Photos of 2020 View the best safety photos of the 2020 season from Vikings photographers. Check in next week for the next power ranking of all-time Vikings. We rank the best safeties in the NFL. Greenwood. Here is how the Vikings graded out in each category. Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. The best NFL safeties of all time are the ones that could lock down the league's best wide receivers in coverage while also delivering big hits to stop the run game. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. 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. He scored twice on interception returns as well. It doesn't lean on the Hall of Fame for selections, either. Eller is credited with the most sacks in Viking history, and, despite his 66 247 lb frame, possessed surprising speed and agility. Need I say more? This week, we'll focus on safeties. In 1997 he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks, and a year later signed a $32.5 million dollar contract with the Vikings, the largest contract for a defensive lineman up to that point. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show 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. 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 . They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. The Vikings received glowing reviews from players on how they treated their families. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. No receiver went over the middle against Minnesota without paying the price. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. Brian Bahr/Allsport. What College Football Team Did John Wayne Play For? 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. 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. 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. 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.. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. His 1,098 tackles are the fifth highest number in team history. In 1990 the Minnesota Vikings signed Carter off waivers for $100 and offered him the opportunity to get sober and redeem his NFL career. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL safeties of all time NFL.com senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest safeties in football history. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. He is still regarded as one of the best QBs in the league. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Both types are represented on this list. Please check your email for a confirmation. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times in Minnesota and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1975, when he picked off 12 passes. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. 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. 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. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. Who Are The Atlanta Falcons' Biggest Rivals? 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. Adrian Peterson was born on March 21, 1985, in Palestine, Texas. Dolemans 150 career sacks gave him All-Pro honors three times, earning his place on the 90s team of the decade. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. 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. Fran Tarkenton was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 3, 1940. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. Will young safeties make a jump this next season? Albin Ouschan 3-rail bank hide, against China team [1:30]: https://youtu.be/xi2KtnHkp8k?t=613. "Lewis is in a great spot right now, he's well ahead of his . Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is one of the best wide receivers in football history. Those are true Vikings. The criteria used includes games started, interceptions and fumble recoveries, touchdowns scored, and their approximate value (AV) assigned by Pro Football Reference. He played for the University of Georgia and was drafted to the Vikings in 1961 when the team was just getting its start. 1. Carnell Lake. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. Dexter Manley 8. 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. 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. As he got older, Winfield became the best tackling corner back in the NFL, and was stout against the run. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. He has 37 career interceptions, 1,118 tackles and is a six-time All-Pro. 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. Pages most ridiculous accomplishment was earning MVP in 1971 as a defensive player. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. That won't be happening here. He tallied 130 career sacks in purple and was All-Pro five times. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. As a result, he was selected for the second-team All-NFC for his performance. 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. 11 on all-time list), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles Scott Boehm/Associated Press 3 / 31 29. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. Not many safeties were more complete than Larry Wilson. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. He earned his reputation as The Scrambler because, in an era when it was practically taboo, Tarkenton was unafraid to run for the ball. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. Take a look at how all 32 of his. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. 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 moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. 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. 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 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 . He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. 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. Buy Vikings Tickets. 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