The Minnesota Vikings have a strong defensive line tradition. From the late 1960s through most of the 1970s, they trotted onto the field one of the greatest defensive lines in the history of the National Football League. The Purple People Eaters. Alan Page and Carl Eller are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A strong case has been argued for decades that Jim Marshall should join them in Canton. Gary Larsen and Doug Sutherland were the strong contributors that lined next to their much more celebrated teammates. With this strong defensive line tradition, it only follows that the Vikings have a strong defensive tackle tradition. Here’s a ranking of the best defensive tackles in the history of the Minnesota Vikings franchise.
Minnesota Vikings Top 10 Defensive Tackles
1. Alan Page
2. John Randle
3. Kevin Williams
4. Keith Millard
5. Henry Thomas
6. Pat Williams
7. Linval Joseph
8. Gary Larsen
9. Doug Sutherland
10. Paul Dickson
The top two are easy. The order might not be for everyone. In my opinion, Alan Page is the best player in Vikings franchise history. He was the first defensive player to ever be named the league’s MVP. He was an unbelievable football player. I’ve still never seen a defensive player take over a game like he could. It was a real treat to become a Vikings fan during his playing career. He was a big reason that this California kid fell for the Vikings. John Randle was damn near as great as Page. I can understand fans that grew up during Randle’s time ranking him above Page.
When I think of Kevin Williams I often think of a play that he made as a rookie in 2003. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, he blew through Will Shields, destroyed Tony Richardson, and tackled Priest Holmes in the backfield. It happened so fast I wasn’t sure what I’d seen. I had to rewind it to understand it. Shields is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Richardson was one of the best blocking fullbacks in the game. Holmes was one of the best backs. Williams wrecked all three. Over his 11 years in Minnesota, he had a lot of plays like that. He might have a bit of a wait but I believe that Williams will join Page and Randle in Canton. I’ll be there when he does.
If injuries hadn’t whittled away at his career, Keith Millard would’ve had a very short Hall of Fame wait. There was a 2-3 year stretch in which Millard’s play rivaled that of Page and Randle.
Henry Thomas was a very underrated football player. He played on a defensive line dominated by Millard and Chris Doleman. Al Noga even seemed to get more attention than Thomas. He played eight of his 14 years in Minnesota. I wish that he’d played all of his 14 years in Minnesota.
It was a blast to watch Pat Williams play football. The Williams Wall! No one ran on the Williams Wall! I loved those guys.
Linval Joseph had a strong six years with the Vikings. Over those six years, he had a couple month-long stretches in which he simply dominated. I believe that nagging injuries kept him from sustaining those month-long stretches and/or having more of them.
Gary Larsen and Doug Sutherland completed the Purple People Eaters. Someone had to clean up after their more celebrated linemates chased after quarterbacks. Larsen and Sutherland were great at doing that. My earliest years as a Vikings fan were Larsen’s final years. As a result, I have a better memory of Sutherland.
Paul Dickson was an original Viking. He preceded Alan Page and Gary Larsen. Since his career was before my time as a Vikings fan I know his play through old clips. He was one of the players that helped get the Vikings through their early expansion years and into their title-contending years.
Sharrif Floyd had the talent to finish in the top half of this list. His football story is one of the most disappointing in all my time as a Vikings fan. I felt like he was about to hit his stride on the football field and it all came to an end with a hacked-up surgical procedure. A routine surgical procedure. His story is proof that no surgical procedure is routine.
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