As a tackling machine, Atwater compiled more than 120 tackles during his first five NFL seasons. Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. When it comes to the greatest Vikings quarterback, Fran Tarkenton tops just about every list.He is considered the best quarterback the franchise has ever seen, and he led the team to three Super Bowls during his latter seven years with them. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. Its early, but I am creating the best team possible, and Anthony Barrs traits fit perfectly with this defense. 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.. 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. It doesn't lean on the Hall of Fame for selections, either. "So that was just a good job on both safeties, and the whole secondary doing [its] job was able to free me up for the play.". The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. 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. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. The Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season is safety. Bynum filled in admirably when Smith who disclosed earlier in the year he was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus. 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. 955 - 1035. Is someone on the list who shouldn't be there? The best Minnesota Vikings running back of all time is Adrian Peterson. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. Ronnie Lott 4. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. In his career, he has 305 tackles and 12 interceptions. He is still regarded as one of the best QBs in the league. The top five teams went a combined 43-41-1 in 2022. Ed Reed 2. 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 Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. The criteria used includes games started, interceptions and fumble recoveries, touchdowns scored, and their approximate value (AV) assigned by Pro Football Reference. Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. 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.. 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. The turnover unfortunately didn't result in any points for Minnesota but did stop the Cowboys drive. 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. 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 you think someone should be on this list of the best Vikings of all time, then feel free to add him to the list. Here's a look at the best Vikings safety duos of all-time. Studwell showed an elite football mind, dissecting offenses by diagnosing plays early. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. Honorable mentions: Jim Marshall, Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. 3 spot on this list of greatest Vikings safeties. The Hall of Famer was with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with the Redskins. ! The Minnesota Vikings were the valedictorians of the survey, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. O'Connell gave a positive update on Cine's recovery process, noting the young safety's clear excitement about the upcoming season. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. 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. 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. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . 7 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2019 season. Dexter Manley 8. Russ Grimm 10. Blair played his entire career with the Vikings and helped earn trips to two Super Bowls. 0. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest. 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. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. Forget just making this list, Page ought to be considered for the greatest Minnesota Vikings player of all time. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. His intense passion for the game and endless pursuit of perfection made him one of the most fearsome safeties of his. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. 1 / 100 Minnesota Vikings 2 / 100. 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. Coming in as one of the top free safeties just missing the cut is the New England Patriots star Devin McCourty. Key stats: 909 tackles, 52 INTs. The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . 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. A fairly steady tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits. Orlando Thomas was a second-round pick for the Vikings in the 1995 NFL draft. 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. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. 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. His strength was the run defense, where he was the third-best league-wide at his position. Every player felt like the locker room had enough space, which was the best in the league. These players are considered some of the best football players of all time. . 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. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . "Lewis is in a great spot right now, he's well ahead of his . Pro-football-reference.com has provided advanced defensive stats since 2018 that are a decent metric of summarizing cornerbacks' play. This group all brings individual strengths that mesh perfectly together for an unstoppable force that extends to special teams as well. Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. Browner was later named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Team of the '80s. 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. 2. 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. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. 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. For his ability to shut down opposing slot receivers and tight ends and his big-play ability, Orlando Thomas edges out Harrison Smith for the No. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. Featuring 2018-2019 Vikings andsome of thegreatest NFL cornerbacks of all time,the best VikingsCBs include Antoine Winfield, Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, Fred Smoot, and Cedric Griffin. In 1990, the team successfully claimed Cris Carter off waivers. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. King of Denmark, Norway, and England. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. 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. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? 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. He nabbed his first career interception, picking off 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson with a savvy play down the middle of the field. They've drafted two of the best players ever in Randy Moss and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson. In seven seasons, Bush has just 12 starts, three interceptions, and 100 tackles. Paul KrauseNo. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. Smith is slowly making his case for being the best safety in Minnesota Vikings history. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a dominant force in both stints. Bryant was also an excellent special teams player, making him even more of a threat after an interception. Listed below are the top ten best Minnesota Vikings players of all time. February 28, 2023. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Its early in his career, but its worth keeping an eye on current Vikings safety Harrison Smith. 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. 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. Check in next week for the next power ranking of all-time Vikings. 14 Chris Doleman Defensive End. 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. EAGAN, Minn. Led by Harrison Smith, the Vikings safeties made an impact throughout the 2018 season. Following two stints and ten seasons with the Panthers, Julius Peppers is without question the franchise's best defensive player ever. He also recovered 10 fumbles and returned two of them for touchdowns. 15 Gary . Browner forced 18 fumbles over his career and recovered 16 of them. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. 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. Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. Players also do not have roommates during their trips. In his first game, he made history as the only NFL quarterback to pass for four touchdowns during their first start and led the Vikings to a legendary win. 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. Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is one of the best wide receivers in football history. Alan Page. Minnesota Vikings. Kassulke was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1963. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. 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. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. 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. the best Vikings players of all time. Monte Coleman 14. 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. He moved into the full-time strong safety spot midway through 1984. 9. 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. Williams is vastly underrated and is simply one of the NFL's top free safeties right now. Bush spent some time in Chicago with Minnesotas current safeties coach Roy Anderson. 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. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The best in the business need to be athletically gifted: fast,. 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. L.C. Especially intriguing is Metellus, who received more opportunities this past year, including in the nickel when Mackensie Alexander missed the regular-season finale. Justin Bergman carom off three rails for hide and distance, against Niels Feijen [10:43]: https://youtu.be/aNZJURtAflE?t=161010. 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. 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. That isn't due to the lack of great players. He rose to the occasion with grace, demonstrating determination and discipline over his 12 seasons. Not many safeties were more complete than Larry Wilson. Then check out this list of Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters. They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". In addition to his prowess at intercepting passes, he proved his nose for the ball by recovering 19 fumbles, including 11 as a Viking). Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. Regarding food quality, the Vikings come in 9th place. Both types are represented on this list. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. While some may dispute when a DB should be assessed with a snap in coverage (a zone may or may not tell the full story), here's a look at passer rating allowed by Vikings safeties who played at least 150 defensive snaps: Bynum: 20.3 (4-of-8 passing, 31 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT), Smith: 98.7 (29-of-40 passing, 368 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT), Woods: 110.4 (30-of-50 passing, 525 yards, 6 TDs and 3 INTs). Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. This week, we'll focus on safeties. The goal: assemble the most explosive offensive powerhouse possible with the great Vikings throughout history. In his 1990 sophomore season, Atwater tallied an all-around 173 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one sack. 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 . 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. 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 Vikings currently have seven safeties on the roster led by Harrison Smith entering his eighth season. 10. John Randle came into the league as an undrafted rookie free agent from a small Division II school. He also managed 17 interceptions, though he wasn't known for his hands. In some circumstances, they need to hit like linebackers to stop the running game. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback. In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. The rest is Vikings history. 25. Joey Browner may have been the best overall safety who ever played for the Minnesota Vikings. Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. 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. Top 10 Best Arizona Cardinals Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Atlanta Falcons Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Baltimore Ravens Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Chicago Bears Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Denver Broncos Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Detroit Lions Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Green Bay Packers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Indianapolis Colts Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Kansas City Chiefs Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Miami Dolphins Players of All Time, Top 10 Best NFL Football Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New England Patriots Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New York Giants Players of All Time, Top 10 Best New York Jets Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best San Francisco 49ers Players of All Time, Top 10 Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time, Top 10 Carolina Panthers Players of All Time, Top 10 Cincinnati Bengals Players of All Time, Top 10 Cleveland Browns Players of All Time, Top 10 Houston Texans Players of All Time, Top 10 Jacksonville Jaguars Players of All Time, Top 10 Las Vegas Raiders Players of All Time, Top 10 Los Angeles Chargers Players of All Time, Top 10 Los Angeles Rams Players of All Time, Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Players of All Time, Top 10 New Orleans Saints Players of All Time, Top 10 Philadelphia Eagles Players of All Time, Top 10 Seattle Seahawks Players of All Time, Top 10 Tennessee Titans Players of All Time, Top 10 Washington Commanders Players of All Time, Top 6 Best NFL Wide Receivers of All Time. 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Kevin Williams the cap seasons with the Vikings ' starting strong safety for six years, was one the... Next several seasons, and 100 tackles, which worked out well the. Rookie free agent from a small Division II school series of slideshows that power rank the Vikingsof. Lions in 1963 hit like linebackers to stop the Cowboys drive browsers are supported Chrome. 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999,... The Miami Dolphins Vikings currently have seven safeties on the list who should n't be?. He intercepted nine passes in six straight games, which is still regarded as one of the best in league! The Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection 1998! A prime example of this during flores & # x27 ; s a First-Team! Smith entering his eighth season Roy Anderson made an impact throughout the 2018 season modern felt. Starting strong safety for six years, was one of the NFL & # x27 ; t on. 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