All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 29 – Chad Greenway
After the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Chad Greenway seemed destined for big things in the NFL. However, his future in the league was quickly put in doubt after the linebacker tore his ACL during the 2006 preseason and had to sit on the sidelines for his entire rookie year.
A native of Mount Vernon, South Dakota, Greenway was essentially born to play for the Vikings. So instead of sulking around and feeling sorry for himself after his knee injury, the linebacker came back better than ever in 2007 and finished his first official season with 107 total tackles.
Greenway ended up playing in the NFL for 10 years, all with Minnesota. The linebacker was a natural leader on defense and he finished with at least 90 total tackles in each of his first eight seasons with the Vikings.
Over the course of his career, Greenway was a three-time MVP of Minnesota’s defense, a two-time Pro Bowler, and a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2012. His 1,289 career tackles are the fourth-most in Vikings team history.
– Adam Patrick