Top 12 Minnesota Vikings cornerback duos of all-time

4. John Turner and Willie Teal (1981-1983)

• 3 seasons
• 19 interceptions
• 6 fumbles recovered
• 1 touchdown
• 75 starts

This is John Turner’s second appearance in the ranking. Turner, a second-round draft pick of the Vikings in 1978 was joined by Willie Teal, another second-round draft pick, in 1980.  Their three seasons as starters in the Vikings’ defensive backfield began in 1981.

Over the three seasons they played together, Turner and Teal averaged 6.3 interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Their average of two fumble recoveries per season ties them for second-best on the ranking. What prevents them from rising higher is they missed a combined 21 games and never started all 16 games together during any of the three seasons.

In 1984 Turner left the Vikings to play for San Diego returning to Minnesota in 1985 but only started four games backing up Rufus Bess. Turner and Teal never played in the Vikings defensive backfield as a starter again. Both players careers ended in 1987, Turner with the Vikings and Teal with the Raiders.

3. Carl Lee and Issiac Holt (1986, 1988)

• 2 seasons
• 21 interceptions
• 1 fumble recovered
• 2 touchdowns
• 56 starts

This is the second appearance for Carl Lee in the ranking. Before he played three seasons with Najee Mustafaa, Lee shared the defensive backfield with Issiac Holt. Holt joined the Vikings as a second-round draft pick in 1985 and became the starter alongside Lee in 1986 making 15 starts. Holt played five seasons with the Vikings before finishing his career in Dallas.

Holt’s best season as a pro came in 1986 when he led the Vikings with eight interceptions.

A strike eliminated one game from the schedule, and replacement players were used for another three games making a mess of the 1987 season. Wymon Henderson started nine games that season while Holt only made five starts.

The following year in 1988, Holt’s last full season with the Vikings, he returned to make nine starts. This time it was Lee’s turn to lead the Minnesota Vikings with eight interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns.  The 10.5 interceptions Lee and Holt averaged are the highest in the ranking.