The Minnesota Vikings announced yesterday that defensive tackle Kevin Williams will be the 26th member of the team’s Ring of Honor. He was surprised with the honor at TCO Performance Center by owners Zygi and Mark Wilf. Williams will be formally inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor at halftime of a yet-to-be-announced game this season.
Williams was an immediate starter and impact player from his first season in 2003. He wrecked offenses and it was so much fun to watch. He was named first-team All-Pro five times, a six-time Pro Bowler, a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team, and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings. When I think of Williams’ playing career I often think of a play from a December game against the Kansas City Chiefs during his rookie season. At the snap, he destroyed Hall of Fame guard Will Shields, ran over Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson, and tackled All-Pro running back Priest Holmes in the backfield. In a blink, Williams dispatched three of the best at their respective positions as if they were not there. If I had a Hall of Fame vote, I might’ve put him in Canton on the spot. He wrecked offenses and it didn’t take long for him to become one of my favorite Vikings of any era.
Minnesota has a strong defensive line tradition. Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, Doug Martin, Keith Millard, Chris Doleman, Henry Thomas, and John Randle carried that tradition into the 2000s. Kevin Williams took it from there. Defensive tackles Page and Randle are Hall of Famers. Williams could join them. There aren’t many defensive tackles that can touch 5 All-Pros and an All-Decade selection. Now, he can add Vikings Ring of Honor. Congratulations Kevin Williams!
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
Fran Tarkenton (1998)
Alan Page (1998)
Jim Finks (1998)
Bud Grant (1998)
Paul Krause (1998)
Fred Zamberletti (1998)
Jim Marshall (1999)
Ron Yary (2001)
Korey Stringer (2001)
Mick Tingelhiff (2001)
Carl Eller (2002)
Cris Carter (2003)
Bill Brown (2004)
Jerry Burns (2005)
Randall McDaniel (2006)
Chuck Foreman (2007)
John Randle (2008)
Scott Studwell (2009)
Chris Doleman (2011)
Matt Blair (2012)
Joey Browner (2013)
Randy Moss (2017)
Ahmad Rashad (2017)
Dennis Green (2018)
Steve Jordan (2019)
Kevin Williams (2021)
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