5 former Vikings greats who ended their careers with another team

Daunte Culpepper (Detroit Lions)

Daunte Culpepper was a dynamic dual-threat quarterback for the team in the early 2000s.  He was taken in the first round of the 1999 Draft and a year later became the team’s starting quarterback. Culpepper was known for his small hands and thick thighs, and after a big play, he liked to get his “Roll On” by moving his hands over each other in a rolling motion.

Culpepper had a big arm and loved airing the ball out to Randy Moss for huge gains. He also moved well for a big man and used his surprising athletic ability to pick up extra yardage on the ground. Culpepper peaked in 2004 when he had an MVP caliber season. That season he threw for 4,717 yards with 39 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He also ran for 406 yards with 2 more scores. He was seen as one of the best quarterbacks in the league and one that was surely going to be the focal point of the Vikings’ offense for years to come.

A season later disaster struck. Culpepper blew out his knee and was lost after Week 7 of the season. The following offseason he became disgruntled with the team and wanted to be traded. He got his wish and was dealt to the Dolphins for a second-round pick. He only lasted a season there before joining the Raiders. He ended up finishing his career in Detroit where he started 10 games over two seasons and did not play very well. Though his career with the Vikings ended on a sour note, Culpepper was a great quarterback during his prime and one that was hard seeing finish his career with a division rival like the Lions.