Which 30 Minnesota Vikings players should be considered the absolute best?
Since the team’s first season in 1961, the Minnesota Vikings have had many very talented players take the field in their purple and gold uniform.
Not all of these players took the same path to the Vikings though. Minnesota drafted some, some signed with the team in free agency, some played in the USFL before joining the Vikings, and some were even claimed on the waiver wire by Minnesota.
In their history, the Vikings have had 22 players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 32 earn at least one First-Team All-Pro selection, and 100 get voted to at least one Pro Bowl. Some of the greatest players in NFL history spent the majority of their careers in Minnesota.
So of everyone to ever suit up for the Vikings since 1961, which 30 players should be considered among the franchise’s greatest of all-time?
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 30 – Bill Brown
While his name might not be immediately recognizable to casual Vikings fans, there is plenty to love when it comes to former Minnesota running back Bill Brown, who dominated his competition with an aggressive style that punished the defenders of other teams.
Coming to the Vikings in 1962 after spending one season with the Chicago Bears, the former first-round draft pick was a member of the 1969 NFL Championship team and was for four-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro during his 14-season career.
During his time with the Vikings, Brown picked up 5,757 yards running the ball and 3,177 through the air, totaling 8,934 offensive yards. He added 52 touchdowns on the ground and 23 through the air, and one score on a kick return.
The Vikings recognized his contributions to the team and placed Brown in the team’s Ring of Honor and made him one of their 50 Greatest Vikings after spending 13 seasons with Minnesota.
– Adam Carlson
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
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 28 – Ahmad Rashad
The fourth overall selection of the 1972 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t come to the Vikings until the 1976 season, but when he arrived on the team, he immediately became an impact player on offense.
His first season in Minnesota found Ahmad Rashad catching 53 passes for 671 yards and three touchdowns, but the talented receiver had two seasons during his career where he broke 1,000 yards and had eight or more scores in a season twice.
Rashad currently sits 7th all-time in receiving yards for the Vikings, accumulating 5,489 yards through the air, and his 34 receiving touchdowns places him seventh all-time in franchise history.
Best known for being the recipient of the “Miracle at the Met”, Rashad was a four-time Pro Bowl player and a one-time All-Pro, who is also enshrined in the Vikings Ring of Honor. He was included among the 50 Greatest Vikings.
Following his retirement from the NFL, Rashad became the host of shows like NBA Inside Stuff, NBA Access, and Real TV, plus reality/game shows such as Celebrity Mole and Caesar’s Challenge.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 27 – Antoine WInfield
He certainly was not the biggest player whenever he was on the field (listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds). But where Antoine Winfield lacked in size, he made up for it with strength and aggressiveness.
After signing with the Vikings as a free agent in 2004, the corner fit in very nicely with Minnesota’s defense. Winfield was not only excellent in pass coverage, but he also had the impressive ability to halt an opposing rushing attack.
Current Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer would love to have Winfield playing on his defense today, as the guy was a tackling machine.
Cornerbacks, especially those of today, are not usually known for compiling a high number of tackles. But during Winfield’s nine seasons with Minnesota, he finished with at least 85 total tackles six different times (including 101 in 2012).
During his career with the Vikings, the cornerback was voted to three Pro Bowls, and he earned a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2008.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 26 – Robert Smith
When discussing the greatest running backs ever to play for the Vikings, Robert Smith has to be included in the mix. After being a first-round draft pick of the team in 1993, Smith spent his entire eight-season NFL career in Minnesota.
It’s not enough to point out that he has the second-most rushing yards in franchise history at 6,818 yards, but the former first-round draft selection out of Ohio State in 1993 was named to the Pro Bowl twice and All-Pro Second Team once.
Sneaky out of the backfield, Smith caught 178 passes for 1,292 yards adding six touchdowns, with three of those scores coming in his final year with the Vikings. A dual-threat out of the backfield, he was a big reason the Minnesota offense was as scary as it was during the late 1990s.
A model of consistency, Smith rushed for over 1,000 yards for four consecutive seasons with Minnesota. Adding to that great statistic is the 4.8 yards per carry the running back averaged over the course of his 1,411 rushing attempts with the Vikings and only fumbled a total of nine times.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 25 – Scott Studwell
Despite being the 250th overall selection in the 1977 NFL Draft, Scott Studwell still appeared in every game for the Vikings during his rookie season. He remained in a reserve role on defense until 1980 when he became one of Minnesota’s starting inside linebackers.
Once the Vikings made him a starter, Studwell never looked back. During eight of his final 11 seasons, the linebacker led the Minnesota defense in tackles.
Studwell still currently holds the Vikings’ records for career tackles (1,981), tackles in a single season (230), and tackles in a single game (24). He spent his entire 14-year NFL career as a member of the Vikings, retiring from playing after the 1990 NFL season.
The two-time Pro Bowler was inducted into Minnesota’s Ring of Honor in 2009. In his post-playing career, Studwell effectively transitioned into a front-office role with the organization, and in 2019, he retired from his position as the Vikings’ Director of College Scouting.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 24 – Grady Alderman
It’s rare for a player in today’s NFL to have a career spanning over a decade, but Grady Alderman held down the blindside on the offensive line of the Vikings for 14 of his 15 seasons in the league.
After starting his career with the Detroit Lions as their 10th-round selection in the 1960 NFL Draft, Alderman became one of the original members of the Vikings during their inaugural season in 1961 and immediately became their starting left tackle.
Alderman started 177 games for Minnesota over the course of his career and recovered 13 fumbles during that time, proving the awareness that the team got with the protection he offered on the offensive line.
Blocking for quarterbacks like Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp, Alderman earned six Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro honors during his career, which made him one of the 50 Greatest Vikings and an important reason the team won the NFL Championship during the 1969 season.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 23 – Carl Lee
A staple in the team’s defense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Carl Lee is one of the best cornerbacks to ever play for the Vikings.
Of every defender to play for Minnesota since 1985, Lee has the second-most career interceptions (27). In 1988, the cornerback’s eight picks (including two that were returned for touchdowns) helped the Vikings’ defense finish the season allowing the second-fewest points per game in the NFL.
As a member of Minnesota’s defense for 11 years, Lee racked up a total of 771 tackles in his career. The most of any Vikings cornerback since 1980.
During his time with Minnesota, Lee was voted to three Pro Bowls and was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 1988. He was also named one of the 50 greatest Vikings in 2010.
Lee ended up having a pretty impressive career in the NFL for a guy that was not drafted until the seventh round in 1983.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 22 – Matt Birk
A sixth-round selection by the Vikings in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Harvard, Matt Birk didn’t start on the offensive line for Minnesota until his third season in the league despite playing in 22 games during that time. However, he would go on to be a consistently great player for the team.
Birk started 146 games for Minnesota once he took over the job at center, including all 16 regular seasons games for seven seasons, and he likely would have added two more seasons to the list if not for a hip injury that sidelined him for the 2004 season and caused him to miss the 2005 campaign.
Birk accumulated some great accolades over his career, earning six Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro honors. He spent his final four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was part of the team which won Super Bowl XLVII.
The St. Paul, Minnesota native was known for his efforts off the field as well, winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his work in the community in 2011.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 21 – Steve Jordan
Steve Jordan is another player who took full advantage of the Vikings giving him a chance to be a starter after spending the early part of his career as a reserve. In his 13 seasons with the team, he set the bar for future Minnesota tight ends.
In the Vikings’ record book, Jordan holds the mark for the most career receptions (498) and receiving yards (6,307) by a tight end. He also has the second-most career touchdown catches (28) of any tight to play for Minnesota.
Jordan’s 179 receiving yards in a 1986 matchup against the Washington Redskins are also the most ever in a single game by a Vikings tight end.
He was an important part of Minnesota’s offense in the late 1980s and his performances were rewarded with six-straight invites to the Pro Bowl from 1986 to 1991. No other Vikings tight end has ever been voted to more than two Pro Bowls.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 20 – Matt Blair
Spending 13 seasons with the Vikings after the team used a second-round draft pick on the Iowa State linebacker in 1974, Matt Blair set the standard for outside linebackers with his combination of size, speed, and athleticism.
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 232 pounds, Blair was an intimidating force on defense who accumulated 16 interceptions and 20 fumble recoveries in his 160 games played. However, his total number of tackles and sacks are not available because they were not officially recorded statistics at this time.
Blair’s impact on special teams cannot be overlooked. Thanks to his physical ability and hard work, the linebacker is third in NFL history in blocked kicks, deflecting 20 over the course of his career. Fans may remember his blocked punt from Super Bowl XI that resulted in a defensive touchdown for Minnesota.
Still, Blair’s impact was rewarded with six Pro Bowl nods and one All-Pro designation on his way to becoming one of the 50 Greatest Vikings and joining the Vikings Ring of Honor.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 19 – Gary Zimmerman
After spending two years with the Los Angeles Express of the now-extinct United States Football League, Gary Zimmerman joined the Vikings in 1986. From that time until 1992, he evolved into one of the best left tackles to ever play for Minnesota.
During his career with the Vikings, Zimmerman never missed a game. His impressive play on the field resulted in him getting voted to four Pro Bowls and earning two First-Team All-Pro selections.
With Zimmerman’s help, Minnesota was able to finish the 1991 NFL season with the NFC’s top rushing offense. The Vikings actually had one of the league’s top 15 rushing attacks in five of Zimmerman’s seven years with the team.
He eventually retired after winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in the 1997 season. In 2008, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 18 – Jim Marshall
When talking about the “Purple People Eaters”, it’s hard not to mention the contribution of Jim Marshall, who was a fourth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns out of Ohio State in 1960 before being traded to the Vikings for the franchise’s first season.
Marshall was the NFL’s prime example of an iron man, playing in 282 consecutive games and starting 270 consecutive contests (two NFL records that would later be broken by Jeff Feagles and Brett Favre) and proved to be a consistent force in the stellar defensive unit.
Despite most statistics like tackles and sacks not being officially recorded during Marshall’s NFL career, he did accumulate 30 fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown during his career, adding one interception during his 20 years in the league.
The bruising defensive end was the last man standing from the Vikings’ first season in the NFL and played in all four of the team’s Super Bowl appearances. Because of that, it’s no surprise that Minnesota retired his No. 70 jersey, placed him in the team’s Ring of Honor, and he named him one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 17 – Steve Hutchinson
Before he arrived in Minnesota, Steve Hutchinson was already a two-time First-Team All-Pro offensive guard with the Seattle Seahawks. But the Vikings were able to lure him away from Seattle in 2006 and he proceeded to keep up his high level of play in the Twin Cities.
During his six seasons with the Vikings, Hutchinson was voted to four-straight Pro Bowls, and he earned three more First-Team All-Pro selections. With the help of their talented offensive lineman (and some guy named Adrian Peterson), Minnesota finished among the NFL’s top five rushing offenses in 2008 and 2011.
This year was Hutchinson’s first time appearing on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although he made it to the final round, the former Vikings offensive lineman was not among those selected to be a part of the 2018 induction class.
However, it likely will not be much longer until Hutchinson is given his own gold jacket from the Hall of Fame.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 16 – Chuck Foreman
The Vikings knew they needed to find a game-changing weapon for their backfield in the 1973 NFL Draft. They succeeded in filling that gap by selecting Miami Hurricanes fullback Chuck Foreman with the 12th overall selection.
Foreman exploded into the Vikings’ backfield, earning 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors by rushing for over 800 yards for four touchdowns and adding 362 receiving yards for two scores. But he was far from a one-year wonder with Minnesota.
Spending seven years with the Vikings and one season with the New England Patriots, Foreman accumulated a total of 5,950 rushing yards for 53 touchdowns and showed off his pass-catching skills with 3,156 receiving yards and 23 more touchdowns, and transitioned fully to a halfback role with the franchise.
As the franchise’s No. 3 all-time rushing leader, Foreman was named to the Pro Bowl five times and All-Pro teams four times. In addition to those honors, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings and is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 15 – Jared Allen
Not since John Randle was causing havoc during the 1990s has there been as dominant a pass rusher for the Vikings as Jared Allen.
After Minnesota acquired the defensive end in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, the Vikings’ pass rush got an immediate boost.
During the three previous seasons before Allen’s arrival, the Vikings’ defense averaged just 34 sacks per year. With their new defensive end in 2008, Minnesota finished the season with 45 sacks.
The Vikings’ defense actually ended a year with 40 or more sacks during five of Allen’s six seasons with the team.
Since 2000, no player has more sacks in a Minnesota uniform than Allen (85.5). His 22 sacks in 2011 are still the most ever in a single season by a Vikings defender.
In six years with Minnesota, Allen was voted to four Pro Bowls, and he earned three First-Team All-Pro selections.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 14 – Joey Browner
Highly athletic from a young age, Joey Browner participated in several sports, including track and field competitions in high school, before focusing on football at USC. He became their MVP in 1982 and helped lead the team to two bowl games.
His impressive play made him the 19th overall selection in the 1983 NFL Draft, where he was praised for his tackling. Browner played in all 16 games during his rookie year at safety for the franchise.
Browner spent nine seasons in Minnesota before spending his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he did rack up some excellent numbers over his career. He notched 37 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns during the 145 games he played.
Accolades came easy for Browner. He earned six Pro Bowl nods, made four All-Pro teams, was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings. Browner was part of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and earned enshrinement in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 13 – Chris Doleman
After originally beginning his NFL career as a linebacker for the Vikings in 1985, Chris Doleman made the permanent switch to defensive end in 1987. All that it resulted in was him getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Safe to say, the decision to switch positions for Doleman was a smart one.
In 10 years with Minnesota, Doleman accumulated a total of 96.5 sacks and 31 forced fumbles. His 21 sacks in 1989 were the most in a single season by a Vikings defender until Jared Allen finished with 22 in 2011.
With the help of their defensive lineman’s outstanding year, Minnesota’s defense finished with a team-record 71 sacks in 1989.
In his career with the Vikings, Doleman was a two-time First-Team All-Pro, and he was voted to six Pro Bowls. He is a member of Minnesota’s Ring of Honor and the defensive end was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 12 – Paul Krause
Making an immediate impact as a rookie with the Washington Redskins in 1964, Paul Krause intercepted a season-high 12 passes. This helped cement Krause as a ball-hawking safety before getting traded to the Vikings in 1968.
Although Krause would only net double-digit interceptions during a season twice in his career, the playmaking defensive back snagged an impressive 81 picks in 226 games played. He brought three of them back for touchdowns in his career.
Also recovering 19 fumbles for three scores during his NFL career, Krause was an important part of the Vikings squad that won the NFL Championship in 1969. He was a part of all four Super Bowl appearances in franchise history.
It’s no surprise that accolades piled up for Krause. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler who earned six All-Pro honors and was enshrined in the Vikings Ring of Honor for his contributions in the secondary.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 11 – Mick Tinglehoff
From the moment he joined the Vikings organization as a rookie in 1962 to his final season in Minnesota in 1978, Mick Tingelhoff was the team’s starting center in every single game. The offensive lineman is one of the few players to play in each of the Vikings’ four Super Bowl appearances (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976).
From 1964 to 1969, Tingelhoff was voted to six straight Pro Bowls, and he also earned five First-Team All-Pro selections. He is one of three former Minnesota offensive lineman to be selected as a First-Team All-Pro in at least five seasons.
Tingelhoff started 240 games in his career with the Vikings and only Jim Marshall has more career starts (270) in team history.
In 2001, Tingelhoff was inducted into Minnesota’s Ring of Honor, and he is one of four former Vikings offensive lineman to be given the honor by the team. After years of waiting, Tingelhoff was also finally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 10 – Kevin Williams
While older fans of the Vikings are drawn to the mystique and legacy of the “Purple People Eaters”, younger fans know of a different dominating group of players on the defensive line: The Williams Wall.
Comprised of Pat and Kevin Williams, these two defensive tackles were nightmares for opposing offenses based on Pat’s ability to clog up running lanes and Kevin to get after the quarterback.
During his 13 years in the league, Williams accumulated 63 sacks, five interceptions, and 13 fumble recoveries, scoring four times off those plays. His production earned him six Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro designations, as well as a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team and the 50 Greatest Vikings.
The first-round pick of the Vikings in the 2003 NFL Draft spent 11 years with Minnesota before spending his final two years with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, but eventually signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Vikings.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 9 – Carl Eller
Carl Eller is easily one of the best pass rushers to ever put on a Vikings uniform. The NFL did not officially begin to keep track of sacks as a statistic until 1982, but the defensive end is currently Minnesota’s all-time sack leader with 130 in his career, according to the team’s official website.
In addition to being the Vikings’ all-time leader in career sacks, Eller is also the only player in the team’s history to record 15 or more sacks in at least two seasons.
He was a part of Minnesota’s infamous defensive line known as the “Purple People Eaters” that helped propel the team to four Super Bowl appearances in the first 16 years of the franchise’s existence.
Eller and fellow Vikings defensive linemen Alan Page, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen, were all voted to the Pro Bowl in 1969. That is still the only time in league history where all four members of a team’s starting defensive line went to the Pro Bowl during the same season.
Including that year, Eller was voted to six Pro Bowls, and he was also a five-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
The defensive end is a member of Minnesota’s Ring of Honor, he was selected as one of the Vikings’ 50 greatest players of all-time, and he was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 8 – Ron Yary
Expectations were high for Ron Yary out of USC. The Vikings made him the first offensive lineman in draft history to be chosen with the first overall selection in 1968. The offensive tackle did not disappoint.
Settling in at right tackle, Yary would start 199 games for Minnesota. He would be part of the teams that would win 11 division titles and participate in all four of the team’s Super Bowl appearances. Yary was a part of the 1969 NFL Championship squad.
Yary was the epitome of toughness. If not for a broken ankle, which caused him to miss two games, the hard-nosed tackle wouldn’t have missed a single game other than those he was absent for due to his military commitment.
The awards Yary earned alone are enough to realize how important he was to the Vikings. Seven Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro Team nods, the 50 Greatest Vikings, the Vikings Ring of Honor, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are among his top honors as a pro. However, the accolades alone don’t show the impact Yary had on the football field. He was a reliable, tough, athletic offensive lineman, which is rare in the national football league.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 7 – Fran Tarkenton
It’s pretty hard to think about the history of the Vikings without mentioning Fran Tarkenton at least once. He was the first (and possibly the only) franchise quarterback the team ever had.
With the third draft pick in team history, the Vikings selected Tarkenton in the 1961 NFL Draft. He quickly emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks because of his ability to run and pass at a high level.
Minnesota ended up trading him in 1967 to the New York Giants and then the Vikings re-acquired the quarterback from the Giants in 1972. Tarkenton’s second stint with Minnesota is really where he emerged as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
With Tarkenton as their starter under center from 1973 to 1976, the Vikings went 43-10-1 and appeared in three Super Bowls. He completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 10,666 yards, 74 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions during that stretch of seasons while also running for six more scores.
Tarkenton went on to play for two more years in Minnesota before retiring in 1979.
To this very day, he still holds numerous Vikings records, including the marks for career passing yards, career touchdown passes, wins, and career rushing yards by a quarterback. As a member of Minnesota’s roster, Tarkenton was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, and he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro in 1975.
The quarterback is a member of the Vikings’ Ring of Honor, he is one of Minnesota’s 50 greatest players of all-time, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 6 – Adrian Peterson
Although drafting a running back was far from the team’s priority entering the 2007 NFL Draft, the Vikings couldn’t resist selecting Adrian Peterson out of the University of Oklahoma when he fell to the seventh spot in the first round because of a shoulder injury.
A track and field standout in high school, Peterson’s combination of power and speed made him an incredibly tough player for opposing defenses to tackle. The team soon centered their entire offense around the stellar running game that featured the Palestine, Texas native.
During his 10 seasons with the Vikings, Peterson accumulated a franchise-high 11,747 yards on the ground. He led the NFL in rushing yards for three seasons, even setting the league’s single-game rushing record with 296 yards against the Chargers in 2007.
Seven Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro Team nods, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and an NFL MVP award highlight the career of a potential Pro Football Hall of Fame running back. Peterson was the face of the Vikings franchise for many years, leaving a lasting impact on the team and its fans.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 5 – Randy Moss
As soon as Randy Moss took the field with the Vikings for his very first regular-season game in 1998, it quickly became known how special of a player he was. In that first matchup, which was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota receiver caught four passes, and two of them ended up being touchdowns.
In his rookie season with the Vikings, Moss finished with 69 catches for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns. It was the beginning of a six-year stretch with Minnesota where the receiver ended each season with at least 68 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns.
Moss’ time with the Vikings ended up getting cut short when the team decided to trade him to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. He later found his way back on Minnesota’s roster in 2010, but that stint lasted a whopping four games.
Despite only spending around half of his NFL career with the Vikings, Moss’ impact on the franchise was still tremendous. During the six seasons he was on their roster from 1998 to 2004, Minnesota’s offense ended the year among the league’s 10 best in scoring and total yards five times.
Since Moss’ departure in 2005, the Vikings have had a top 10 scoring offense twice and finished among the NFL’s 10 best in total yards just once.
His 1,632 receiving yards in 2003 are still the most in a single season by any player to ever suit up for Minnesota. Moss also still has the second-most catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in Vikings team history.
Moss was added to Minnesota’s Ring of Honor in 2017, and then a year later, he was a part of the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Two honors that are very well deserved.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 4 – John Randle
Unlike many other players on this list, John Randle’s path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was met with some massive challenges. After not being drafted, he worked out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, only to get turned away because of his size.
The 6-foot-1 defensive end got a workout with the Vikings as a favor to head scout Don Deisch and showed enough to earn a spot with the team in 1990. However, through hard work and flashes, the undersized defensive lineman earned a full-time starting job and never looked back.
Randle accumulated nine seasons where he recorded double-digit sacks and recorded 114 total quarterback takedowns during his 11 seasons in Minnesota, adding 25 forced fumbles and 9 fumble recoveries.
For an undrafted free agent who was initially turned away, John Randle went on to earn seven Pro Bowl nods, six All-Pro team honors, went in the Vikings Ring of Honor and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame… and make teams who passed on him due to his size feel quite silly.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 3 – Randall McDaniel
After the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft, Randall McDaniel was immediately thrown on to the team’s starting offensive line. It was the beginning of a 12-year career in Minnesota, where he was a part of the starting offense during each and every season.
During his 12 years with the Vikings, McDaniel was voted to 11 straight Pro Bowls, and he earned seven First-Team All-Pro selections. Both amounts are more than any player in Minnesota team history.
His 188 career starts in a Vikings uniform are also the second-most of any offensive lineman to ever play for the franchise. With McDaniel’s help leading the way, former Minnesota running back Robert Smith was able to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three straight seasons from 1997 to 1999.
The offensive lineman spent the final two years of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he decided to retire in 2002. Seven years later, McDaniel was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a part of the 2009 class.
– AP
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 2 – Alan Page
As a key member of the Purple People Eaters, Alan Page joined the Vikings as a first-round draft pick in the 1967 NFL Draft. He continued to work with his other passion while playing football: studying law at the University of Minnesota Law School.
His studies didn’t seem to have any negative impact on the football field, where Page earned nine consecutive Pro Bowl nods and was either a First or Second-Team All-Pro during that time as well. Most notably, he became the first defensive player ever to be named NFL MVP in 1971.
It’s difficult to quantify his impact because of the lack of recorded statistics during his era of play, but his productivity and leadership on the field were immeasurable. He was known for his unique stance as a right defensive tackle, where he used his left hand to plant in his 3-point stance.
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Page was a key part of the Vikings team that went to four Super Bowls and won the 1969 NFL Championship and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. His jersey number is retired by Minnesota, where he was enshrined in their Ring of Honor.
– AC
All-time Greatest Minnesota Vikings: No. 1 – Cris Carter
Many players have come and gone through the Vikings’ locker room since the team’s very first season in 1961. But no one may have had more of an impact on the franchise than Cris Carter.
After the Philadelphia Eagles cut him for some off-the-field issues in 1990, Minnesota gave the receiver a shot and claimed him off waivers. Over the next 12 years, Carter definitely made sure the Vikings knew how thankful he was for giving him a second chance.
Minnesota made him a starter in 1991 and he responded with 72 catches for 962 yards and five touchdowns. But that season was just a preview of what was to come for Carter.
From 1993 to 2000, the receiver ended each year with at least 75 catches, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Jerry Rice is the only other pass-catcher in NFL history to achieve these marks in more seasons than Carter.
During that same time period, the Vikings receiver also set the team’s all-time record for catches in a single season, led the league in receiving touchdowns three times, and helped lead Minnesota to seven playoff appearances.
Carter is also the Vikings’ all-time career leader in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions.
He is one of 23 members of Minnesota’s Ring of Honor and the receiver was finally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
50 greatest Minnesota Vikings players from the 2010s
Since the 2010 season, which 50 players to suit up for the Minnesota Vikings should be regarded as the absolute best of the bunch?
Carter is also one of the Vikings’ 50 greatest players of all-time, and of that group, it’s hard to argue against the receiver being the absolute best ever to put on the purple and gold.
– AP