Yesterday, I listed my favorite receivers in Minnesota Vikings franchise history. That got me thinking about my favorite running backs in franchise history. The running tradition isn’t as strong as the receiving tradition in Minnesota. Still, there’s been some fine backs. One is headed to Canton. Another should already be there. If he can stay on the field, another is playing his way into Hall of Fame discussion. Here are my favorite running backs in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.
1. Adrian Peterson
2. Chuck Foreman
3. Dalvin Cook
4. Robert Smith
5. Bill Brown
6. Dave Osborn
7. Terry Allen
8. Tommy Mason
9. Chester Taylor
10. Ted Brown
11. Darrin Nelson
12. Rickey Young
Adrian Peterson was a brilliant running back. In his prime, he ranked among the greatest runners I’d ever seen. Part Jim Brown. Part Eric Dickerson. He could run by, through, and over anyone tasked with slowing him. He had games of 224 yards and an NFL-record 296 yards as a rookie. He was just getting started. He took home the league’s MVP a year after tearing his ACL. If he’d managed another nine yards that season, he’d have the season rushing record. He’ll have a bust in Canton soon.
Chuck Foreman should have a bust in Canton. A lot of fans have Jim Marshall as the former Vikings most deserving of a Hall call. For me, that player is Foreman. During an era when running the ball was still the best way to move the ball, Foreman was one of the best backs in the league. For about five seasons, he was arguably the best running back in the league. Without argument, he was the best all-around running back in the league. His 73 catches led the league in 1975. A running back leading the league in receiving? In the 1970s? That’s inconceivable! If injuries hadn’t shortened his career, Foreman would already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still, his first five seasons are worthy of the Hall.
Dalvin Cook might not be as powerful a runner as Adrian Peterson. While fast, he might not be as fast as Peterson. Cook is a special back in other ways. His balance. His feet. His vision. His running is as fun to watch as Peterson’s. If only he could stay on the field for an entire season. He’s missed at least two games each season. In five seasons, he’s missed a season-and-a-half of games. If he can stay on the field, he’d have a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
Robert Smith also had injury issues. He didn’t start more than seven games in any of his first five seasons. Four straight 1000-yard seasons followed. With his ridiculous speed, Smith was one of the most dangerous backs in the game. Defenses had no answer for the Vikings beautifully executed screen game. At the age of 28, after only eight seasons, he retired. After a 1521-yard season, he was gone. His final four seasons were beautiful. During his final three seasons, Smith provided a terrific running compliment to the pass catching of Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Jake Reed.
George Halas traded Bill Brown after the 1961 season. He’d regret that decision for the next 13 seasons. In perhaps the final era of great running fullbacks, Brown ranked with the Jim Taylor and Jim Brown as the best in the game. Bill Brown was an offensive and team leader. As his carries dwindled on offense into the 1970s, he remained a mainstay on special teams. Brown will be forever remembered in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
As the Vikings rose to league prominence in the late 1960s, the team’s versatile committee of running backs was topped by Dave Osborn and Bill Brown. Osborn was a grind-it-out chain mover. Until Chuck Foreman started cranking out 1,000-yard seasons, his 972 yards in 1967 was the team record.
Terry Allen was another Vikings back that dealt with injuries. He came into the league dealing with injuries. He dealt with injuries in the league. He only played three seasons in Minnesota. A fourth was lost to those damn injuries. His perseverance is a big reason for his place on this list. Allen followed that lost season with 1,000 yards seasons. His best years were spent in Washington. It always felt like those years should’ve been in Minnesota.
As the #1 pick in the 1961 NFL Draft, Tommy Mason was the first pick in Vikings franchise history. He broke out in 1962 and became the Vikings first offensive star. He was a running and receiving threat. He caught passes at a time when most backs didn’t catch passes. Mason went to three straight Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro in 1963. He should be in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
Chester Taylor signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2006. He signed to be the team’s top back. He was great that season, rushing for 1216 yards. Then the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson in 2007. Everything changed. Instead of being a team’s top back he was the league’s best RB2. He still rushed for 844 yards in 2007. His carries dwindled as Peterson rose to greatness. Taylor was a great #2.
Ted Brown was drafted in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft to be the next Chuck Foreman. There was never going to be a next Chuck Foreman. Ted Brown was a very good back. At his best, he gained 912 yards in 1980 and 1063 yards in 1981. His numbers declined as the Vikings started relying more on multiple backs through the 1980s.
Darrin Nelson will always be blamed for not being Marcus Allen. It wasn’t his fault that the Vikings chose him over Allen. Personally, I was thrilled that Nelson was the pick as I’d been watching him closely for four years at Stanford. He was exactly the versatile sort of back that the Vikings had favored since Chuck Foreman. Unfortunately, Nelson wasn’t NFL-sized. He was a very good player for the Vikings. He was never a great player. He was never Marcus Allen.
I always liked Rickey Young. I liked him when he was with the San Diego Chargers. I loved that the Vikings traded for him in 1978. I didn’t like that Ed White was traded to get him but I liked that the Vikings had him. With the Vikings, he was best known for catching passes out of the backfield. During his first three years in Minnesota, Young had reception totals of 88, 72, and 64. His 88 catches in 1978 led the league. He was also a good runner and great blocker.
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