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. 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. 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. His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. Welcome to the latest in a series of slideshows that power rank the greatestMinnesota Vikingsof all time by position. "VALHALLA" | AGGRESSIVE Viking Battle Music Best Vikings Music Of All Time Viking Music 2021 Image: Quote from Vikings: Valhalla If there is any prob. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Minnesota Vikings ever, then head over and check out some of the best Vikings kickers ever. 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. 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. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/05/vikings-have-2-of-the-top-safeties-of-all-time/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Knud, Knut, Canute, Cnut) is without a doubt one of the most influential Vikings in history, establishing a Norse rule in the North Sea for the first and only time in history. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 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. 9. The Minnesota Vikings were praised for their cafeteria, with 100% of players saying there is enough room. 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. On Halloween night and the prime-time stage, he had a spook-tacular outing against his former team. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. The Time Travelers (1964) A 1964 movie made on the cheap with genuinely terrible effects, The Time Travelers is about a group of scientists who travel to the future, fight some mutants and . He retired at the peak of his career in 1978 and held every significant NFL passing record, and still ranks in the top ten for many. The Minnesota Vikings opened this years training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season is safety. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. In 1990 the Minnesota Vikings signed Carter off waivers for $100 and offered him the opportunity to get sober and redeem his NFL career. Will the Vikings' offense be better or worse in 2019? In his career, he has 305 tackles and 12 interceptions. Coming in as one of the top free safeties just missing the cut is the New England Patriots star Devin McCourty. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. Dexter Manley 8. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. He was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 1988 as an offensive guard. He spent fourteen years with the Vikings and played starting right tackle from his second season on.. We rank the best safeties in the NFL. The Vikings have drafted well over the years. 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. A season ago, Harris (91.6) and Smith (91.4) produced PFF's top two coverage grades among players at the position. Scott Studwell was a ninth round draft choice in 1977, and dominated throughout his career, playing all of it in Minnesota. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. The Vikings drafted Camryn Bynum out of Cal and converted the cornerback to safety, which worked out well for the youngster. In addition to leading the team in tackles with eight, Woods intercepted QB Cooper Rush early in the second quarter. Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. Earlier this week, he covered the safety position. Asked on Tuesday morning at the NFL Combine about a potential contract extension for Jefferson this offseason, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made himself clear. 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. 5 spot on the list of greatest safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. The Vikings have been blessed with some fine safeties over the years. Bynum answered the bell after finding out the morning of the Ravens game that he'd need to make his first NFL start. 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. They held teams to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship game they held the Giants to just ten points. 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. Steve Atwater was the greatest run-support safety of all time. But nevertheless, it's always less than idea to lose your top safety for back-to-back games. 15 Gary . He played in nine Pro Bowls, and in 1975, he secured both the NFLs MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Award. 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. Griffith, who was the Vikings' starting strong safety for six years, was one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. "I don't want to . In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. 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. Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. Some have been ball hawks, while others have been huge hitters. Troy Polamalu 3. The Commanders were at the bottom of the rankings, with the Cardinals 31st and the Chargers 30th. Kassulke was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1963. Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. 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. Bynum secured his first career sack against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, and he also recorded a pass defensed and a tackle for loss. 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. Justin Hall kick and stick with stun forward, against Nikos Ekonomopoulos [2:30]: https://youtu.be/omQ35O_N_co?t=18264. In seven seasons, Bush has just 12 starts, three interceptions, and 100 tackles. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . Not including a player from the modern era felt painful. In similar fashion to the defensive line . Here's a look at the best Vikings safety duos of all-time. 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. When he saw the Ravens offense set up, Bynum immediately recognized it as a look he'd seen all week during Vikings practices. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. The second on the list, or first we suppose, was Paul Krause. Polamalu was a four-time First Team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls during his 12 seasons. His 1,098 tackles are the fifth highest number in team history. "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.". Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. Joe Jacoby 13. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM CST. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. Part one of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of All Time focuses on the offense. Krause played 16 seasons in the NFL, the last 12 with the Vikings. McMichael set a franchise record with three safeties . All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Charley Taylor 7. The Minnesota Vikings opened this year's training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. Last week, we covered the tight ends. Buy Vikings Tickets. If anyone can get past that nasty defensive line, they wont get much farther. The top five teams went a combined 43-41-1 in 2022. 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. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. 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. the best Vikings players of all time. Adrian Wilson snubbed from list of best all-time safeties Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Steelers Ravens AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans. 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. Russ Grimm 10. His total of 53 picks as a Viking is a team record. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. 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. Carnell Lake performed swimmingly for 10 seasons as a Steeler in the Burgh. After his retirement in 1981, Page began a career in law and was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The goal: assemble the most explosive offensive powerhouse possible with the great Vikings throughout history. 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 report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. Additionally, his ball-hawking ways helped solidify a pass defense that faces brutal competition every week in the pass-happy NFC North. Especially intriguing is Metellus, who received more opportunities this past year, including in the nickel when Mackensie Alexander missed the regular-season finale. Larry Wilson, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960-1972, comes in 15th overall, just ahead of Paul Krause and just behind Willie Wood. He scored twice on interception returns as well. Randle led the Vikings in sacks in nine of his 11 seasons, and strung together eight seasons in a row with over 10 sacks. Sean Taylor 6. The Vikings enter March way over the salary cap. 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. 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. Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. Click on as we power rank the top safeties in Minnesota Vikings history. The Washington Commanders have a long way to go. The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. 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. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Adrian Peterson was born on March 21, 1985, in Palestine, Texas. Randall McDaniel was born December 19, 1964, in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent four years as a starter at Arizona State. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikingsof all time focuses on the 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.. For years, the Purple People Eaters, the nickname for the Vikings defensive line, were one of the most intimidating in the league. I couldnt justify keeping Barr off the list just due to the rich history of other players. 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. He was undrafted out of San Diego State and spent a year in the CFL before arriving in Minnesota in 1994. Wilson is a Hall of Famer, picked off 52 passes . Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. Empire, including in the second quarter Vikings history enter March way over the years of it in.... New and players are happy with it Bear will make another jump headed into year.! 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