Despite excelling, Tarkenton was traded to the New York Giants in 1967. Safeties are the hybrids of NFL defenses. Studwell was often in the right place at the right time, and that was no accident. Chris Doleman tallied 45 forced fumbles in his career. The Vikings ranked as the top team overall, followed by the Dolphins and the Raiders. According to The Top Tens, a website that allows fans to vote, Smith currently tops the as the best safety of the 2018-2019 season. Wilson is a Hall of Famer, picked off 52 passes . Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? His skill kept him on the field even when his reliability was brought into question. He's a seven-time First-Team All-Pro and has 56 career picks and counting. Griffith was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season and was an All-Pro selection in 1998 and 1999. In the 1996 Pro Bowl, he made history as the first guard to catch a touchdown pass. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/vikings-rank-1st-in-inaugural-nflpa-team-report-card/, finishing first among all 32 NFL franchises, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Buy Vikings Tickets. By the time his nine seasons in purple were over, he had racked up some serious statistics. Smith is only 28, but hes made two-straight Pro Bowls in his five seasons in purple. Table of Contents Who are the Best NFL Safeties of All Time? Hopefully, the former Golden Bear will make another jump headed into Year 2. In the pass, Studwell came away with 11 interceptions despite his lack of elite physical traits. Projected to line up alongside him is Anthony Harris who took over as the starter in 2018 after Andrew Sendejo suffered a groin injury that eventually ended his season as well as his career with Minnesota. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Some changes have been in an effort to reduce the number of hard hits and potentially career-ending injuries that come along with some of the NFL's roughness. As a tackling machine, Atwater compiled more than 120 tackles during his first five NFL seasons. Not only did the rookie get to play in front of friends and family in his home state of California, but he also helped Minnesota notch a West Coast win. Pages most ridiculous accomplishment was earning MVP in 1971 as a defensive player. Smith also wears the same number that belongs to the best safety in Vikings historyPaul Krause. It was a smart move. Harrison Smith & Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings. He was a first-round draft pick in 1964 for both the Vikings and their rivals, the Buffalo Bills, but made the decision to stay in Minnesota and began a fourteen-year career with them that ended in 1978.During that time, he became a crucial element of the Vikings famed defensive line.. If these eras of purple punishment combined, opponents would have nowhere to go but backwards. Coming in as one of the top free safeties just missing the cut is the New England Patriots star Devin McCourty. Off the field, however, he was troubled and faced child abuse charges in 2014. The safety earned a Profootballfocus grade of 66.7, 39th in the NFL among all safeties. Maybe one day Smith will join Browner and Krause as one of the all-time great safeties. Sammy Baugh 2. A list of the best Minnesota Vikings of all time. Jones was perhaps the best at his position in the NFL during the early part of the decade, exemplified by being voted to the . Adrian Wilson snubbed from list of best all-time safeties Schedule Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Steelers Ravens AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans. Krause was named All-NFL four times, started in four Super Bowls and has a Minnesota Vikings record with 10 interceptions in a year. His intense passion for the game and endless pursuit of perfection made him one of the most fearsome safeties of his. Every player felt like the locker room had enough space, which was the best in the league. Please check your email for a confirmation. Ed Reed's impact should not be downplayed, however. The Minnesota Vikings new training staff was a welcome change from the previous regime. The report card stated that several players had a negative experience with the old head trainer. Part two of the Greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time focuses on the defense. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll Minnesota Sports and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 9. Hes a hall of famer and widely considered one of the best in the league. Carl Eller, one of the Purple People Eaters, simply out manned opposing left tackles for 15 seasons as a Viking. Dr. Dave recreates and analyzes the 10 best safeties of all time executed by pros other than Efren Reyes.This is part of the \"Most Famous Pool Shots\" series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH9d4KFY28XscHllvlP_rVC1jQjDXZmYDShots Included and Source Video Links:- Intro [0:00]1. Players felt the training staff went above and beyond to help them. Smith told media members he largely felt symptom-free, but the protocols at the time dictated that he remain away from the team for 10 days. The 25 Best Safeties In NFL History. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings. He retired at the peak of his career in 1978 and held every significant NFL passing record, and still ranks in the top ten for many. 14. Known primarily as a tackler, Browner surprisingly snared 37 interceptions, which is good for fourth on the Vikings' all-time list. Doing so could mean some hard decisions on key contributors from last season like Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks, Za . No pair of safeties has performed better or lifted their defense higher than the Vikings' tandem of Harris and Smith. Krause not only tops the Vikings franchise record for career interceptions with 53, but he also owns the NFL record with 81 career picks. The best Minnesota Vikings running back of all time is Adrian Peterson. Who are the best cornerbacks in Minnesota Vikings history? 16 despite having an NFL-record 81 interceptions. He detailed the play for media members, noting that the defense was in middle-open coverage, so he expected Baltimore to try attacking the middle of the field. Joe Theismann 11. But despite that and three more Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings have yet to win a Super Bowl championship. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, The Vikings have time to re-sign Tomlinson and lessen the cap hit. At the time of his retirement, he ranked third and fourth in NFL history with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasted no time making a name for himself as one of the best young safeties in the league. He retired in 2001 after playing a final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and got licensed to work in the Minnesota Elementary school system helping mentor disadvantaged children in his community, a cause he was passionate about throughout his football career.Fans and peers regard him as one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and he has been applauded throughout his career for his athleticism, leadership, and character. Smith totaled a career-high 114 tackles (83 solo), which ranked second on the team behind linebacker Eric Kendricks. And with Dorn and Metellus now having two seasons under their belt, will they become more regular contributors on defense in 2022? Sendejos contract option was $5.4 million in 2019 and it ended up being a price too high for the Vikings as Harris looked more than capable in his nine starts last year. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. L.C. The Raiders and Texans were the only two in the top five to finish with a losing record, while the Vikings, Dolphins, and Cowboys all made the . Two former Vikings were listed in his top group. View the best safety photos from the 2021 season shot by Vikings photographers. Became the first defensive player to receive the NFL's MVP award. "So that was just a good job on both safeties, and the whole secondary doing [its] job was able to free me up for the play.". Another name to monitor who shares that familiarity is Adrian Amos if he has a smaller price tag and is open to continuing his journey in the NFC North after stops in Green Bay and Chicago. https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2017/07/05/vikings-have-2-of-the-top-safeties-of-all-time/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. By Arif Hasan December 24, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show Flores sees safeties as an integral piece on the chess board and uses them in a variety of ways. These lists are filled with players who epitomize what it means to be a Viking. Smith suited up for his seventh season in Purple and started all 16 games. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, Five years ago today, the Vikings celebrated the Minneapolis Miracle. The Hall of Famer was with the Vikings from 1968-1979 after three seasons with the Redskins. In this defense, based heavily off pass rush, intelligent corners with good press ability will wipe out quick passes and stop outside runsWinfield fits that description. Born August 7, 1945, in Canton, Ohio, Alan Page was a first-round draft pick from Notre Dame in 1967.His philosophy was that a defensive player should think of himself as an aggressor, not as a defender. He was a key element of the notorious Purple People Eaters defensive line and a nightmare for opposing teams. Demand for cruises on Viking reached all time highs last month when the cruise line had their best booking month ever and recorded 18 of their top 20 sales . The offense once again failed to capitalize, though, and the Vikings ultimately fell 20-16. His pass coverage, meanwhile, lowered his overall rating. For his ability to shut down opposing slot receivers and tight ends and his big-play ability, Orlando Thomas edges out Harrison Smith for the No. Alex Pagulayan full-hit follow-the-rail hide, against Skyler Woodward [8:51]: https://youtu.be/ALy6VtA78uw?t=5259. Reed ranks 10th all-time in interceptions, and had nine Pro Bowl selections. He made a name for himself immediately, setting the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game (296) in his very first season, earning himself Rookie of the Year in 2007. When he retired, he held every major passing record, had played in nine Pro Bowls, won MVP (1975) and Offensive Player of the Year (1975), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner . Despite their 4-0 Super Bowl record, the Minnesota Vikings have a long history of legendary players. NFL Best Safeties in the NFL 2022: Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Antoine Winfield Prove Value of Versatility Modern NFL defenses rely on coverage, and the best defenses have the top safeties in the NFL. Deon Bush has made a nice role for himself as a backup safety in the NFL since 2016 and has some ties to the Vikings in place if he decides to leave Kansas City. Players offered heaps of praise for the Vikings strength coaches, stating that the strength coaches go above and beyond to support them and add to their success. Every player also believed they received an individual plan, which tied for 1st in the league. His fierce hits caused receivers to think twice about going across the middle of the secondary. That isn't due to the lack of great players. The team selected him from Louisiana-Lafayette and plugged him immediately into the defensive rotation. He played for the University of Georgia and was drafted to the Vikings in 1961 when the team was just getting its start. Vikings Are a Perfect Fit for Top Free Agent. Minnesota returned All-Pro safety Harrison Smith for his 10th NFL season, and signed Xavier Woods after he played his first four pro seasons with Dallas. Other players, particularlyAdrian Peterson, would have been fun in any era. The report cards polled 1,300 players, who provided information about their current teams. They held teams to just 10.3 points per game, and in their championship game they held the Giants to just ten points. Here is every player who has ever held the position of Minnesota Vikingsstarting cornerback. "So as soon as I saw the quarterback look me off and then go back to the front side, that's when I knew I was free game to make a break, and that's when me and Xavier, we both had it viced and if I didn't make the play, he would have made the play on that," Bynum explained. Over the course of his tenure, Thomas intercepted 22 passes, which is good for seventh place on the team's all-time list. He became their starting quarterback in his rookie season and began a relentless career that landed him in the history books and at the top of our list. Charley Taylor 7. The Dolphins led the league in 2021 with a 38% blitz rate, and were top five in 2020 under Brian Flores. Those are the quintessential Vikings to many fans. While he managed 19 interceptions over his career, his ferocious tackling made him a vital component of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. The best NFL safeties of all time are the ones that could lock down the league's best wide receivers in coverage while also delivering big hits to stop the run game. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Players had no complaints regarding the Vikings new locker room. Troy Polamalu 3. The draft capital and the cap space are limited, so Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to hit on the top signings and the first selection in the draft. Little known fact about Alan Page: he blocked 28 punts and kicks in his careeras an interior lineman. He even helped push the Vikings to all four of their Super Bowl appearances and four championship victories, playing in the Vikings most successful era and demonstrating an impeccable work ethic and sportsmanship. Smith, the Vikings' second first-round pick of the 2012 draft, helped turn an abysmal secondary into a respectable NFL unit in his first year. The Vikings, Dolphins and Raiders consistently ranked among the top three in those eight categories while the Commanders (dead last), Cardinals (second worst) and Chargers (third worst) fell well . 10. Viking Cruises. Strong Safety. But, this time Im ranking best safety duos in Vikings history. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings combined a mixture of veteran experience and youth at the safety position in 2021. These are the top 15 hardest hitters to ever come through the NFL. Over the next several seasons, even as the Vikings struggled to find their footing, Tarkenton continued to prove his merit. Ken Houston 6. Few players wanted to continue playing after taking a Browner hit. The data was averaged for the number of years each duo players together. 22 firstmainly because of his longevity and his interception record. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Smith's previous career high had been 104, which he recorded as a rookie in 2012. "I don't want to . The report, released Wednesday during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories - everything from meals and . The Minnesota Vikings opened this year's training camp on Friday and one position they appear to be all set for the season. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Top 10 BEST SAFETIES of All Time And How to Shoot Them 56,661 views Dec 16, 2020 1.2K Dislike DrDaveBilliards 240K subscribers Dr. Dave recreates and analyzes the 10 best safeties of all time. That won't be happening here. Certain players, such as Mike Morris and Scott Studwell, would have fit perfectly in that era. The report card mentioned that all players felt like owner Zygi Wilf is willing to spend money to upgrade their facilities. As a result, he was selected for the second-team All-NFC for his performance. In 2021 . In 2021 Peterson set another record when he scored a rushing touchdown with the Seattle Seahawks, making him the first player in history to score a rushing touchdown with six different NFL teams.Peterson has cemented himself as one of the greatest running backs of all time, and his career with the Vikings is a crucial part of his legacy. Randy Moss was born in West Virginia on February 13, 1977, and was a first-round draft pick from Marshall University in 1998.He played with the Vikings for seven seasons as a wide receiver from 1998-2004 and for a brief stint in 2010, setting records and collecting accolades along the way. The survey . Smith has been one of the NFL's best safeties for a good long time, and he managed to maintain that status despite coverage and pressure breakdowns all along Minnesota's defense. He was known as much for his consistency as his stature and grit. Tarkenton was the first Viking ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and is recognized for his skill, consistency, and innovation as one of the greatest QBs of all time. The position of Minnesota Vikingsstarting cornerback to win a Super Bowl championship same number that belongs to New! Previous regime 39th in the league in 2021 with a 38 % blitz rate, and was. Downplayed, however Scott Studwell, would have nowhere to go but backwards is... 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