Top 12 Minnesota Vikings cornerback duos of all-time
By Tim Arcand
10. Bobby Bryant and John Turner (1979-1980)
- 2 seasons
- 13 interceptions
- 1 fumble recovered
- 0 touchdowns
- 58 starts
This duo came together at the opposite end of their careers. These were Bobby Bryant’s 12th and 13th seasons with the Vikings as his career came to end. For John Turner, it was just his second and third seasons with the Vikings.
Bryant joined the Vikings as a seventh-round draft pick in 1967. By 1969 he made his way to the starting lineup and played behind the famed Purple People Eaters that made it to three Super Bowls. Bryant ranks second in Vikings’ franchise history with 51 career interceptions.
Turner joined the Vikings as a second-round draft pick in 1978. In his second season, he started all 16 games alongside Bryant. Turner played nine seasons in the NFL, eight of them with the Vikings, playing the 1984 season with the Chargers before re-signing with Minnesota and finishing his career in 1987.
Bryant and Turner never started all 16 games together in a season as Bryant was limited to 14 and 12 starts in the two years they played together. They averaged 6.5 interceptions per season, getting nine of them in 1980 with Turner leading the team with six.
Both players had long careers with the Minnesota Vikings, look for Bryant and Turner appear later in the rankings.
9. Dewayne Washington and Corey Fuller (1995-1997)
- 3 seasons
- 13 interceptions
- 1 fumble recovered
- 2 touchdowns
- 86 starts
The Vikings selected Dewayne Washington in the first round of the 1994 draft and added Corey Fuller as a second-round pick in 1995—both players made impacts their rookie seasons as Washington became an instant starter in 1994 and Fuller joined him in the defensive backfield for 10 starts in 1995.
Over the three seasons, they started 86 games and averaged 4.3 interceptions per season. Washington’s four picks in 1997 was the high point for these two as this was his last season with the Vikings before signing with the Steelers as a free agent in 1998.
Fuller’s best season was 1996 when he intercepted three passes. Like Washington, Fuller only played four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Browns in 1999. Their best season was their last together in 1997. They combined for 175 tackles and six interceptions.