List of all-time best defensive ends includes 3 former Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Carlson
On an NFL.com list of the 30 best defensive ends to ever play in the National Football League, three former members of the Minnesota Vikings were included.
When it comes to sacking the cornerback and containing the edge, teams know they need a high quality defensive end to get the job done. Over the years, the Minnesota Vikings have enjoyed many great pass rushers, and many of them left a lasting legacy with the franchise.
Recently, NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt compiled a list of the best defensive ends ever to play in the National Football League and it is no surprise that three former Minnesota greats mad the countdown.
The three included tin the top 30 countdown are Jared Allen, Chris Doleman, and Carl Eller. Two of those men are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while the other will likely one day join them in the prestigious honor.
Starting off the countdown at #30 is Jared Allen. Allen joined the Vikings in 2008 after spending 4 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. After leaving Minnesota following the 2013 season, he joined the Chicago Bears for two seasons before spending his final year with the Carolina Panthers. Here are his listed accomplishments shared be Brandt:
- Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times
- 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Two-time NFL sack leader
- NFL-record four career safeties
- Recorded 136 career sacks (No. 11 on all-time list), 57 pass deflections and 31 forced fumbles
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Up next for the Vikings on the list was Chris Doleman at #9. Doleman was a first round pick of Minnesota in 1985 and stayed with the team through the 1993 season. Following his departure from the Vikings, he spent two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before returning to Minnesota for his final season in 1999. Brandt listed his major accomplishments:
- Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times
- 1989 NFL sacks leader
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
- Recorded 150.5 sacks for fourth-most all time
- Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The final Vikings player appeared at #8. Carl Eller was a part of the Purple People Eaters defense following being a first round pick of the team in 1964. He stayed with the team through the 1978 season before moving on to the Seattle Seahawks for his final year in the NFL. Here are his listed honors according to Brandt:
- Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times
- 1971 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Missed only three games (out of 225) in 16-year career
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- Unofficially recorded 133.5 career sacks, which would rank No. 12 on all-time list
- Had seven seasons of 10-plus sacks
- Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Congratulations to former Minnesota Vikings defensive ends Jared Allen, Chris Doleman, and Carl Eller on being included in the list of all-time greats ever to play the position. Hopefully, more great Minnesota pass rushers will be included in lists such as this in the future.