Inducted into the hall of fame in 1988. He finished his career with 37 interceptions, fourth in team history. 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. Little known fact about Alan Page: he blocked 28 punts and kicks in his careeras an interior lineman. 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. 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. Carl Eller, one of the Purple People Eaters, simply out manned opposing left tackles for 15 seasons as a Viking. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. This was by far the most difficult position group to select. Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. It was a smart move. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. The best Minnesota Vikings running back of all time is Adrian Peterson. Russ Grimm 10. To shed light on his all-around game, Browner led the Vikings in nine defensive categories during his career. What many fans don't realize is that he played for 10 years prior to the accident. Jevon Holland was a prime example of this during Flores' time with the Miami Dolphins . Players also do not have roommates during their trips. They held teams to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship game they held the Giants to just ten points. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. 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. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. He had 51 interceptions in 13 years and had four defensive touchdowns. 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. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. They've drafted two of the best players ever in Randy Moss and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson. Sammy Baugh 2. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 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. Brian Dawkins 5. It's all about being a Viking. 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. They were also 2nd in the league for their post-game gathering area. Most of all, these three linebackers work well together because of their game intelligence. Gil Brandt from NFL.com has been rattling off his best at each position group this offseason. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. As Meirov noted, the team can save roughly $50 million in cap space by moving running back Dalvin . Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. 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. His size and aggression on the field,paired with his intelligence and agility, made him the ideal offensive lineman.He was known to play through injuries and only missed two games throughout his career. He isnt just an all-time Vikings player, he is an all-time NFL player. 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. Bush has 17 tackles over the last two seasons on special teams. Regarding staff, 95% of players felt the Vikings had enough athletic trainers (ATCs), and 92% said they had enough physical therapists (PTs). 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. The Vikings have drafted well over the years. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. Coming in as one of the top free safeties just missing the cut is the New England Patriots star Devin McCourty. 9. 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. A Super Bowl winner, Reed is a name that can be overlooked when discussing the best safeties of all-time. He went on to snag 53 more as a member of the Vikings, setting an all-time NFL record of 81. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Carl Eller was born January 25, 1942, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended college at the University of Minnesota. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. In the past two years, he has played on deals . 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. 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. Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. 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. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. Need I say more? EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. Bobby Bryant played corner back in all four Super Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings. Not many safeties were more complete than Larry Wilson. He also holds the team mark for 852 yards on interception returns. In his athletic prime, Antoine Winfield was an excellent corner in coverage and had a keen ability to press wide receivers at the line. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. Just like part one, this roster will be both awesome and arguable, and I await your comments (@eddiechisham). 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. 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. 9. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Za . Art Monk 5. 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. The Vikings new Defensive Coordinator, Brian Flores, loves to blitz the passer. Copyright 2017-2023 Rookie Road Inc. All rights reserved. Dolemans 150 career sacks gave him All-Pro honors three times, earning his place on the 90s team of the decade. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . It includes every starting cornerback from throughout Minnesota Vikings history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. The Vikings offer a steam room and sauna, which 100% of players said were big enough. 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. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. Greenwood. AncientPages.com - For many years, archaeologists and historians have provided an increasingly informed insight into the dynamic world of the vikings, chipping away at the clichs of a crazed, capricious people preoccupied with beards and bloodshed.One particular approach to understanding viking activity has been to study the encampments they set up along the coasts and rivers of western . Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. In his six years as the team's strong safety, he tallied nearly 600 tackles, including more than 100 in a season three times. 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. Harris also finished second at the position in terms of . 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. When the opposing quarterback inevitably has to get the ball out early, Krause will be there for the interception. 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 . He was voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, selected for six Pro Bowls, and chosen for the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. 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. Alan Page. Monte Coleman 14. He replaces A . All picks and predictions are suggestions only. For the first time, the NFL Players Association released their team report cards on Wednesday. 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. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . Bynum answered the bell after finding out the morning of the Ravens game that he'd need to make his first NFL start. He adopted intimidation tactics, trash-talking, and a larger-than-life presence on the field that waged absolute psychological warfare. 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. The Vikings weight room was built in 2018 and received glowing reviews. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. 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.. He earned his reputation as The Scrambler because, in an era when it was practically taboo, Tarkenton was unafraid to run for the ball. The Best Minnesota Vikings Cornerbacks Of All Time. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. 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. The Vikings enter March way over the salary cap. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. As a result, he was selected for the second-team All-NFC for his performance. 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. Then check out this list of Minnesota Vikings cornerbacks with photos and seasons as starters. Peppers recorded 97 sacks in black and blue and forced more than 30 fumbles, both of which are by far team records. 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