The Viking Age
FanSided

Ranking all the Minnesota Vikings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

By Adam Carlson

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Shannon Sharpe, Floyd Little, Gary Zimmerman and John Elway present Annabel Bowlen with a ring at the induction of Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen into the Broncos' Ring of Fame during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 1, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 01: (L-R) Shannon Sharpe, Floyd Little, Gary Zimmerman and John Elway present Annabel Bowlen with a ring at the induction of Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 1, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

13. Gary Zimmerman

  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Years with Vikings: 1986–1992
  • Years in the NFL: 1986-1997
  • Other teams associated with: Denver Broncos
  • Enshrinement year: 2008

Gary Zimmerman started out in the USFL after a successful career as an offensive lineman at Oregon. He was a first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Express, where he played with Steve Young was named to the All-USFL team twice, eventually a member of the USFL All-Time Team.

After the USFL folded, he was part of the supplemental draft selected by the New York Giants, but the Vikings traded for his rights before ever playing a game. He stayed with the Minnesota Vikings from 1986 through the 1992 season before going to the Broncos to finish his career.

One thing that Zimmerman was known for during his career was his dislike for the media. After an incident where he was caught talking about his teammates was published by the media, he refused to interact with them at all.

However, he was quite accomplished on the field, where he was a 7-time All-Pro, named to the Pro Bowl 7 times, and a member of the Broncos team which won Super Bowl XXXIII. He is one of only 7 players who played in the USFL to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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