The top 10 pass rushing duos in Minnesota Vikings history
By Tim Arcand
10: Jared Allen and Everson Griffen (2010 – 2013)
- 4 seasons
- 123 games
- 74 total sacks
The ranking kicks off with two players next to each other on the Minnesota Vikings career sack list. Jared Allen did not start or end his career with the Vikings, but in the six seasons he played with the team, he made quite an impact. His 85.5 ranks third all-time in team history. Do not be surprised to see Allen show up again in the ranking.
The duo started playing together in 2010 when the Vikings drafted Everson Griffen in the fourth round. Over the four seasons they played together, Griffen backed up Allen and started only one game. They averaged 18.5 sacks per season as Allen registered at least 11 sacks per year while the most Griffen contributed was eight in 2012.
When Allen signed with the Bears for the 2014 season, Griffen took over as the starter at right defensive end with extremely high expectations as the Vikings’ next great sack leader. In ten seasons with the Vikings, Griffen leaves with the four-most sacks in team history with 74.5.
9: John Randle and Henry Thomas (1990 – 1994)
- 5 seasons
- 157 games
- 86.5 sacks
John Randle is the official franchise leader in sacks with 114. On the other hand, perhaps he is the unofficial leader since the stat only became official in 1982 and the Vikings recognize Carl Eller as the team’s career leader in sacks with 130. Randle joined the Vikings in 1990 as an undrafted free agent and played 11 seasons with the Vikings. He became a full-time starter in 1992. In his career with the Vikings, he played three positions along the defensive line.
Henry Thomas played eight seasons with the Vikings and ranks seventh in sacks in franchise history with 56 sacks. A steady interior lineman on the Vikings’ defense, Thomas started 116 of 118 games he played. A third-round draft pick of the Vikings in 1987, he played alongside both Chris Doleman and Randle during his career.
This duo started alongside each other for three of the five seasons they played together as they averaged 17.3 sacks per season.
Both Randle and Thomas will show up later in the ranking.