An underappreciated aspect of the Minnesota Vikings' success in 2024 was the performance of the defense. Brian Flores guided a top-five scoring unit (19.5 points allowed per game) and the second-best run defense in the league (93.4 yards allowed per game). The Vikings also led the league with 24 interceptions.
Led by free agent additions Jonathan Greenard (12 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5 sacks), the Vikings had 49 sacks last season (tied for fourth in the league). The additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency this offseason are lined up to bolster an interior pass rush that has been lacking, and second-year edge rusher Dallas Turner seems set to take on a larger role.
Pair better front-seven depth with Flores' alignment-variable, blitz-heavy tendencies, and you have a recipe for making the lives of opposing quarterbacks a special level of uncomfortable next season.
Bold prediction made about what the Minnesota Vikings defense will accomplish in 2025
On a recent episode of the "Purple Daily" podcast, Judd Zulgad of SKOR North offered up a bold statistical prediction for the Vikings' defense in 2025.
"The 2025 Vikings will break the team record for sacks in a season", Zulgad said. "The record, for context, is 71 in 1989. (The) defensive line back then, Doleman, Millard, Noga and Hank Thomas. That would be the second-most sacks all-time in a season...The record is 72, set by the '84 Bears...The sack became an official statistic in 1982. So in '84, the Bears had 72 sacks. In '89, the Vikings became second all-time with 71 sacks."
"The Denver Broncos led the National Football League in 2024 with 63 sacks", Zulgad continued. "The Vikings finished with 49, 14 back of the Broncos. I think the Vikings are going to have 72 or more sacks in 2025."
The Vikings' 1989 defensive line is, of course, a notch below the legendary "Purple People Eaters" in franchise history. But that group is practically the "Purple People Eaters" for fans of a certain age.
Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman led the league with 21 sacks that year. Defensive tackle Keith Millard came in third with 18 sacks. Defensive end Al Noga added 11.5 sacks. Henry Thomas (one of the most underrated Vikings of all time) had nine sacks to round out that "fearsome foursome" for legendary defensive coordinator Floyd Peters. The four combined for 59.5 of the Vikings' 71 sacks in 1989.
The Vikings' pass rush seems unlikely to have a singularly dominant 18 or 20-plus sack guy in 2025. But the collection of talent could easily tally a lot more sacks than last year, to the point Zulgad is willing to hang his hat on a bold prediction.