Congratulations to the New York Knicks and former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl Anthony Towns on winning the NBA Title earlier this month.
Towns is the latest Minnesota star athlete to join, the likes of David Ortiz, Kevin Garnett, and most recently, Sam Darnold, who have gone on to win it all after spending part of their careers playing in the Twin Cities.
While most of us fans are happy for these guys to finally become champions, it is also tiring to see it not happen here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes time and time again.
Looking at the current roster for the Minnesota Vikings, which players would it hurt the most to see go on to a different city and capture a title in their new home with their new teammates?
5 current Minnesota Vikings players whose Super Bowl win elsewhere would be devastating
Brian O'Neill - RT
Brian O'Neill is the longest tenured member of the Vikings, assuming that Harrison Smith is truly retired. He's been with the team since he was a second-round pick back in the 2018 NFL Draft.
It would be very tough to see this longtime Viking leave the team and win it all with another organization. Despite being a two-time Pro Bowler, O'Neill is still criminally underrated in NFL circles. The dude just quietly goes out and consistently performs at a high level every single week, and he's done that for eight consecutive seasons.
While it would be tough for Vikings fans to see O'Neill in another team's colors, it's actually the most likely to happen from the names on this list. O'Neill is looking for a contract extension with the club, but he just turned 30.
What complicates things more is that Minnesota now has solid depth behind him with Ryan Van Demark and a future replacement in Caleb Tiernan.
It'll be interesting to see how new Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley handles this situation. He could look to deal O'Neill and get the most in return that he can, or maybe he'll extend him.
If he does go, it would be difficult to see this longtime leader of the team win it all with a team that isn't Minnesota.
Josh Metellus - S
Josh Metellus is another long-time Viking who it'd be very tough to see win a Super Bowl somewhere else. Metellus was selected by Minnesota back in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Fans grew to love this player who worked his way from a special teamer to a part-time defender to an all-world jack-of-all-trades type of defender, who has reached his true potential under Brian Flores' tutelage.
Metellus just isn't a great player on the field; he's also a very entertaining one. He was the mastermind, along with former Vikings safety Cam Bynum, who came up with turnover/touchdown celebrations that became the talk of the league and a consistent highlight on Sunday and Monday evening NFL recap shows.
He also has the fun "Tell Us With Metellus" segment on Minnesota's social media accounts and seems beloved by his teammates.
Seeing him hoist that Lombardi trophy, wearing another team's jersey, and doing some crazy, creative celebration would cut real deep.
J.J. McCarthy - QB
Seeing J.J. McCarthy win it all with another team wouldn't be upsetting due to sentimental ties like other names on this list. Sure, there's a portion of the fanbase that still very much supports McCarthy and wants him to be the longtime starter here.
There's also another portion of the fanbase and media that are doing everything they can to knock the kid down and force him out of town.
No matter the side you are on, it would be another case of the Vikings letting the right guy go, and that would be a tough pill to swallow.
Minnesota was forced into a tough spot two years ago after Darnold shockingly led them to the playoffs. They knew they had McCarthy waiting in the wings, so they weren't willing to pony up the contract it would've cost to keep Darnold in-house, and then he goes on to win the Super Bowl with the Seahawks.
There's a lot of rumblings about McCarthy being traded, and honestly, at this point, a change of scenery might be best for him.
Just imagine the uproar and the rage on social media if McCarthy were to go to a different team and lead them to a championship.
If he were to develop into a solid starter or even more and became the reason a team wins it all, Vikings fans would lose their collective minds, because he was ours first, and we didn't want him.
Justin Jefferson - WR
Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the NFL and is the face of the Vikings. He's become the ultimate leader and spokesman for this club and even kept his composure and cool during one of the worst offensive seasons in team history, and not once put himself ahead of the team.
He's worth every penny, yet some still think the team should trade him.
Imagine if Minnesota did just that, and he went on to win a Super Bowl with another squad. Some may feel happy for him and enjoy the multiple first-round picks received in the deal, but others would potentially never watch this team play a single down of football again in their lives.
The only way it would be acceptable for Jefferson to win a title that isn't here in Minnesota is if his contract expired and he signed with a contender in the twilight of his career.
If the team was ready to move on from him and his skills were starting to diminish, that's one thing.
If he were dealt during his prime and went on to win it all, that's a pill that no true fan of the Vikings could swallow.
Harrison Smith - S
Without a doubt, seeing the Hitman win a title with another team would be the hardest for Vikings fans to accept. While technically not currently on the team, seeing him come back when many figured he had retired, only to join another team, would be a kick to the lower section.
Minnesota fans would lose their minds if he returned midseason but signed with a contender.
To see Harrison Smith go on and win it all would be too much.
He's the ultimate Viking, sticking with the team since they drafted him back in 2012. He's reworked his contract, taken less money, and always led with a cool and steady confidence.
He's a future Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member, and many expect and want him to finish his playing days donning that beautiful shade of purple.
That's all probably going to happen, but if he does don another team's colors and wins a championship, that may divide his legacy in Minnesota.
Some will undoubtedly be happy for him to finally be a champion, but others could be bitter seeing him leave the organization so late in his career after giving so much to this team and fanbase.
It would be a polarizing move and one that would be the toughest to see for just about any fan of the Vikings.
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