5 best return specialists in the history of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have enjoyed a rich history of talent in their years as a team. From memorable defensive linemen to top-of-the-line wide receivers, this franchise has had no shortage of great players all over the field. While certain positions get brought up time and time again, there is an underrated group that doesn't get the attention it deserves: the return specialists.

Whether it be returning kickoffs or punts, this group is responsible for being the setup men for the Vikings offense, and sometimes they're the entire offense if they can make the big returns. Special teams are often underrated parts of a football team, with return specialists being an even more underrated part of the special teams.

With such a historic franchise like the Minnesota Vikings, there is no shortage of great return specialists, so who exactly are they?

Criteria for Selection

The factors for choosing the best return specialists are simple:

-Total number of yards accumulated from returns. Whether from kick returns, punt returns, or, in some instances, both.

-The yards per return that the player had while factoring in the player's number of returns. For example: Former Viking DB Holton Hill had an impressive 28.3 Yards Per Return, but this was only on a 3-return sample size.

-Number of touchdowns this player was able to score off returns. Scoring on returns is a hard job, so if a player is able to score more than others, that boosts them in this criteria.

Top 5 Return Specialists in Minnesota Vikings History

5. Kene Nwangwu

While some may see this selection as recency bias, Kene Nwangwu has already had an impressive return specialist career with the Vikings since being drafted in 2021. Here is where Nwangwu's stats rank all-time for kick returns in Vikings history.

- Third all-time in yards per kickoff return (minimum 50 returns) with 27.6 YPR
- Third all-time in career kickoff return touchdowns with three
- 10th all-time in career kick return yards with 1,879 yards

Nwangwu has put together these impressive stats while also having the 10th most kickoff return attempts in team history. Even with the new NFL kickoff rules, this next season for Nwangwu should move his name higher up the all-time stats lists, and firmly solidify himself as a Vikings return specialist great.

Notable career games for Kene Nwangwu

2021 at Baltimore (Week 9): Two kickoff returns, 121 return yards, 60.50 YPR, one return touchdown (the first of his career)

2021 at San Francisco (Week 12): Four kickoff returns, 171 yards (career high), 42.75 YPR, one return touchdown

2022 vs. New England (Week 12): Five kickoff returns, 166 yards, 33.20 YPR, one return touchdown

4. Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin needs no introduction to Vikings fans. Arguably one of the most dynamic playmakers in NFL history, Harvin was able to make his mark in Minnesota during his four years on the team. If Harvin had more time with the Vikings, there is no doubt he'd be higher on this list, especially with the kick return numbers he was able to put up in a short amount of time.

- Second all-time in yards per kickoff return (minimum 50 returns) with 27.9 YPR
- Tied for first all-time in career kickoff return touchdowns with five
- Fifth all-time in career kickoff return yards with 3,183 yards

Harvin was able to do this all with the fifth-most return attempts in Vikings history, leaving fans to wonder, "What if."

Notable career games for Percy Harvin

2009 vs. San Francisco (Week 3): Four kickoff returns, 180 yards (career high), 45.00 YPR, one return touchdown (first career touchdown)

2009 at Pittsburgh (Week 7): Five kickoff returns, 167 yards, 33.40 YPR, one return touchdown

2012 at Detroit (Week 4): One kickoff return, 105 yards, 105 YPR, one kickoff touchdown

3. Marcus Sherels

Marcus Sherels is an underrated player from the 2010's era of Vikings football. Sherels is undeniably the greatest punt returner in Vikings history, and he leaves all of his counterparts in the dust in this competition. Here are his punt return stats.

-First all-time in yards per punt return (minimum 50 returns) with 10.5 YPR
-First all-time in career punt return touchdowns with five
-First all-time in career punt return yards with 2,480 yards

Sherels is also the all-time leader in punt return attempts for the Minnesota Vikings with 237. Going off of just yards per return with no minimum requirement, Sherels still ranks eighth all-time, but he has 211 more return attempts than the highest of the seven players ahead of him.

It may not seem like much, but Sherels is 26th in all of NFL history in punt return yards, ahead of some great punt returners like Deion Sanders and Rod Woodson.

Notable career games for Marcus Sherels

2012 at Detroit (Week 4): One punt return, 77 yards, 77 YPR, one punt return touchdown (first career touchdown)

2013 at NYG (Week 7): Four punt returns, 119 yards (career high), 29.75 YPR, one punt return touchdown

2016 vs Houston (Week 5): Four returns, 100 yards, 25 YPR, one punt return touchdown

2. David Palmer

This one is a blast from the past. David Palmer was selected by the Vikings in the 1994 NFL Draft, and he sure left his mark as a return specialist for the franchise. Palmer is the only candidate on this list who made his mark as both a kick returner and a punt returner, and he stood out in both roles. Just take a look at his numbers.

- Third all-time in career punt return yards with 1,610 yards and career kick return yards with 3,274 yards
- Second all-time in career punt return touchdowns with two and tied for fourth all-time in career kick return touchdowns with one
- 307 total return attempts for 4,884 yards, making him the most prolific return specialist in Vikings history in terms of volume

While Palmer's combined stats from punt and kick returns blow everyone else out of the water, his YPR on both punts and kicks was not as high as others. Even then, Palmer has to be considered in this list just from the sheer amount of volume he had for both return spots and his three combined return touchdowns have him in a tie for third with Kene Nwangwu.

While Palmer may not have been as explosive as the others on this list, he's an all-time return specialist for Minnesota, without a doubt.

Notable career games for David Palmer

1998 at Baltimore (Week 15): Four kickoff returns, 144 yards, one kickoff touchdown (first career kickoff return touchdown)

1995 at Detroit (Week 13): Two punt returns, 90 yards (career high), one punt return touchdown (first career punt return touchdown)

1997 vs. Green Bay (Week 14): 11 total returns, 213 total yards (combined career high)

1. Cordarrelle Patterson

Could there have been anyone else for the top spot on this list? Not only is Patterson the greatest kick returner in Vikings history, but he's one of the best at that position all-time in the NFL. Here is how Patterson stacks up against other Vikings' return specialists.

- First all-time in yards per kickoff return (minimum 50 returns) with 30.4 YPR
- Tied for first all-time in career kickoff return touchdowns with five
- First all-time in career kickoff return yards with 4,075 yards

Cordarrelle Patterson was able to place himself at the top of the Vikings return specialist list while only being fourth all-time in kickoff return attempts. Patterson also holds the longest kickoff return in NFL history with 109 yards, showing just how amazing he was.

In terms of his all-time NFL ranking, Patterson has placed himself at ninth all-time in kickoff return yards with 7,989 yards. Truly an all-time great kick returner.

Notable career games for Cordarrelle Patterson

2013 at Chicago (Week 2): Three kickoff returns, 149 yards, 49.67 YPR, one kickoff touchdown (first career kickoff touchdown)

2013 vs. Green Bay (Week 8): Five kickoff returns, 228 yards (career high), 45.60 YPR, one kickoff touchdown (longest kickoff return in NFL history)

2015 vs. Seattle (Week 13): Five kickoff returns, 198 yards, 39.60 YPR, one kickoff touchdown

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