The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Ken Houston 6. 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. 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. Browner made six straight Pro Bowl appearances, beginning in 1985. The Vikings offered a good amount of first-class seats, and 95% of players felt they had enough room to spread out. What many fans don't realize is that he played for 10 years prior to the accident. The Washington Commanders have a long way to go. The Vikings have had a number of superstars wear the purple and gold. 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. 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. 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. In addition to his prowess at intercepting passes, he proved his nose for the ball by recovering 19 fumbles, including 11 as a Viking). Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. Blair had a hot streak in his career from 1977 to 1982, making six consecutive pro bowls. Every player felt like the locker room had enough space, which was the best in the league. 114 tackles (83 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble; started all 15 games he played; on field for 1,049 of Minnesota's 1,280 defensive snaps (86.8 percent), 108 tackles (72 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles; started all 17 games he played; on field for all 1,280 defensive snaps (100 percent), 28 tackles (20 solo), 1.0 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed; started 3 of 14 games he played; on field for 211 defensive snaps (17.5 percent), 13 tackles (8 solo), 1 pass defensed; played in 16 games (0 starts); on field for 54 defensive snaps (4.5 percent), 3 special teams tackles (1 solo), played in 9 games (0 starts); did not play any defensive snaps. 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In the past two years, he has played on deals . The top five teams went a combined 43-41-1 in 2022. 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. Knud's North Sea Empire, including Denmark . 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. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. No player has dominated the corner position since the turn of the century . He is an elite football mind, he is elite in pass protection and he has a tendency to knock players into their seats. "Lewis is in a great spot right now, he's well ahead of his . It was a smart move. Heres where it gets arguable. Sammy Baugh 2. A fairly steady tackler, Thomas was known more for his pass coverage than his fierce hits. Despite excelling, Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967. The rest is Vikings history. 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. Updated: Mar 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM CST. Blairs most valuable trait was his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. INDIANAPOLIS (AP)The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. His signature face paint became part of this persona, and he played with guts and abandon that rallied his teammates and terrorized opponents.. Will young safeties make a jump this next season? Brian Dawkins 5. Ray Lewis was the star of the great Ravens defense. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and the Vikings ultimately fell 20-16. 4 position on the list of greatest Vikings safeties of all time. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. 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. 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. 2. Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. 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. Harris also finished second at the position in terms of . The Vikings had several Hall of Famers suit up for them during their Super Bowl years like Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page and Ron Yary. King of Denmark, Norway, and England. 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. Still, theres a reason he has stayed in the league this long. 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. He intercepted nine passes in his rookie season, which is still a team record for a rookie. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Woods recorded a strip sack of Rush, and linebacker Anthony Barr was able to recover the fumble. The Minnesota Vikings continue to reshape their defensive coaching staff under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Especially intriguing is Metellus, who received more opportunities this past year, including in the nickel when Mackensie Alexander missed the regular-season finale. There were certainly ups and downs from the veteran defensive back, and it's worth keeping an eye on. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikingsstarting cornerback. Minnesota, 13-4 in 2022, is 30th in cap space at $24.4 million over the cap. Buy Vikings Tickets. As free safeties go, Williams is a physical player who is very helpful in defending the run. 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. Maybe one day Smith will join Browner and Krause as one of the all-time great safeties. As was the case for Anthony Harris, Smith had to do more with less around him. 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. Skyler Woodward thin hit kick freeze hide, with Shane van Boening [7:12]: https://youtu.be/6fMHRkcsCfU?t=9697. 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. Either way, safeties are usually the last line of defense. Inducted into the hall of fame in 1988. He managed to play all 1208 defensive snaps for Zimmers defense in 2021 and led the whole team in snaps. 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 became a special teams star in his first two seasons, and took over the safety spot full-time in 1996. 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. As Meirov noted, the team can save roughly $50 million in cap space by moving running back Dalvin . On other plays, they need to display elite coverage skills to stop the pass. L.C. 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 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. Bynum filled in admirably when Smith who disclosed earlier in the year he was unvaccinated tested positive for coronavirus. 2022 Team: Kansas City Chiefs 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.. He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and then again from 1972 to 1978 and was a dominant force in both stints. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Sonny Jurgensen 12. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Eric Rowe, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Deon Bush. This purple pack of players isn't limited to the most skilled or the most iconic Vikings. All he did from there was become the emotional leader of the Vikings, and a fierce pass rusher from the inside of the line. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. The 25 Best Safeties In NFL History. Take a look at how all 32 of his. Despite his questionable judgment off the field, Petersons skill as a running back is undeniable. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. In his first year in Minnesota, he picked off passes in six straight games, which is still a team record. Matt Blair leads all Minnesota Vikings linebackers with 16 career interceptions from the outside linebacker spot. Gil Brandt from NFL.com ranks Krause as the 11th-best safety in NFL history. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. 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