Outside of the other three members of the NFC North, the New Orleans Saints are easily one of the teams that Minnesota Vikings fans enjoy rooting against each season. During the last 25 years, the Vikings and Saints have had several memorable showdowns that are still talked about today.
In some of those matchups, Minnesota fans were even cheering against New Orleans players who used to suit up for the purple and gold. A number of former Vikings (a number that is probably higher than most would believe) went on to spend at least a few games of their NFL careers in a Saints uniform after their time in Minnesota.
Some of these former Vikings players excelled during their time with New Orleans, while others had a tenure with the Saints that they would probably like to erase from everyone's memories.
Let's look at a few notable former Vikings who had a stint in a New Orleans uniform that some people might have forgotten about.
Former Vikings players who also suited up for the Saints during their NFL career
Adrian Peterson - RB (2017)
His first stop after an impressive 10-year career in Minnesota, Adrian Peterson's time with the Saints lasted slightly longer than his attempt at being a professional boxer.
Peterson signed with New Orleans during the 2017 offseason, and coincidentally enough, his debut in a Saints uniform took place in a Monday night matchup against the Vikings inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota's top-notch defense held Peterson to just 18 rushing yards in a New Orleans loss, and the future Hall of Fame running back only lasted three more games with the Saints before they traded him to the Arizona Cardinals for a sixth-round draft pick
Tommy Kramer - QB (1990)
After appearing in a total of 128 games with the Vikings, Tommy Kramer spent the final season of his NFL career as a member of New Orleans's roster.
Kramer, who still ranks second all-time in Minnesota history in career passing yards, only appeared in one game with the Saints during the 1990 campaign, and, of course, it came in a matchup against the Vikings.
New Orleans lost that contest to Minnesota by a final score of 32-3, but it wasn't due to the play of the former Vikings quarterback, as he only attempted three passes for a total of two yards.
Kevin Williams - DL (2015)
Two years after his last game in a Minnesota uniform, Kevin Williams decided to join a Saints franchise that had broken his heart in 2009 when the Vikings suffered a brutal loss to New Orleans in the NFC Championship.
Given that loss, it was definitely odd to see Williams suit up for the Saints in 2015, especially since the memories from that game were still pretty fresh in the minds of longtime Minnesota fans.
Regardless, Williams put together a solid performance in what would end up being his final year in the NFL in 2015, as he accumulated 32 tackles, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in 16 appearances for the Saints.
Jake Reed - WR (2000 and 2002)
Before Randy Moss came along and stole the show in 1998, Jake Reed was Robin to Cris Carter's Batman and put together four straight seasons in a Vikings uniform with at least 1,000 receiving yards from 1994 to 1997.
But once Moss arrived, it was clear there weren't enough passes to go around, and Minnesota ultimately decided to release Reed. Luckily for the veteran receiver, it didn't take him long to find a new team, as he and New Orleans were able to agree to a contract during the 2000 offseason.
Reed only caught 16 passes for 206 yards in seven games for the Saints in 2000, and after another year with the Vikings in 2001, he returned to New Orleans in 2002 and finished his final NFL season with 21 catches for 360 yards and three touchdowns in 14 appearances.
Carl Lee - CB (1994)
Like Kramer, Williams, and Reed, Carl Lee's final season in the league also came in a Saints uniform.
One of the best cornerbacks in Minnesota history, Lee appeared in 12 games for New Orleans during the 1994 campaign, and he put up some respectable numbers with 32 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
The Saints and Vikings actually faced each other in 1994, but Lee was inactive for that matchup, so he didn't get a chance to go against the team that drafted him all the way back in 1983.
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