Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor: Who’s Next?

The Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor recognizes franchise legends for their contributions to the team’s success on and off the field. The Vikings started inducting the legends in 1998 and have been adding at least one a year nearly every year ever since. There were no new inductions during the two years that the Vikings played at TCF Stadium while the spectacular US Bank Stadium was being built. There were also no new inductions during the inaugural season of that spectacular new stadium. The Ring currently has 26 members. 

Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor

Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback (1998)

Alan Page, Defensive Tackle (1998)

Jim Finks, General Manager (1998)

Bud Grant, Head Coach (1998)

Paul Krause, Safety (1998)

Fred Zamberletti, Athletic Trainer (1998)

Jim Marshall, Defensive End (1999)

Ron Yary, Offensive Tackle (2001)

Korey Stringer, Offensive Tackle (2001)

Mick Tingelhoff, Center (2001)

Carl Eller, Defensive End (2002)

Cris Carter, Wide Receiver (2003)

Bill Brown, Fullback (2004)

Jerry Burns, Offensive Coordinator/Head Coach (2005)

Randall McDaniel, Guard (2006)

Chuck Foreman, Running Back (2007)

John Randle, Defensive Tackle (2008)

Scott Studwell, Linebacker (2009)

Chris Doleman, Defensive End (2011)

Matt Blair, Linebacker (2012)

Joey Browner, Safety (2013)

Randy Moss, Wide Receiver (2017)

Ahmad Rashad, Wide Receiver (2017)

Dennis Green, Head Coach (2018)

Steve Jordan, Tight End (2019)

Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle (2021)

It’s a mystery as to why Jim Marshall wasn’t part of the first year of inductions. He was the captain, heart, and soul of the Vikings Super Bowl teams. The franchise’s most successful run probably doesn’t happen if not for Marshall’s impact on and off the field. It terms of franchise fixtures, it’s Bud Grant, Alan Page, Fran Tarkenton, Jim Marshall and then everyone else. 1998 was the first year of the Red McCombs ownership reign. Maybe Marshall’s exclusion isn’t such a mystery. McCombs never seemed to take the time to learn about his team’s present, let alone it’s past. 

Of the 26 members of the Vikings Ring of Honor, half have a Gold Jacket to go with that Purple Jacket. 13 of the team’s Ring of Honor members have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Fran Tarkenton

Alan Page

Jim Finks

Bud Grant

Paul Krause

Ron Yary

Mick Tingelhoff

Carl Eller

Cris Carter

Randall McDaniel

John Randle

Chris Doleman

Randy Moss

When thinking of those that are honored in some elite group, those thoughts inevitably drift to “Who’s Next?” So, who should be the next member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor? If there’s an announcement to be made, that announcement is made in June or July. If there’s an announcement to be made this year, I don’t see it being made during training camp. That means this week. I suppose there’s a chance that the team’s decision-makers decide not to add to the Ring of Honor during a year with so much newness. New coaching staff. New front office. Who knows? I don’t. I do know that some day there will be a 27th member of Ring of Honor. 

So, who’s the next member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor?

For most of these lifetime honors, my first thought is of those that have been waiting the longest. There’s a deserving player from the first Vikings team in 1961 that has been waiting longer than any other player.

Grady Alderman

Alderman was the Vikings left tackle from 1961 to 1973. He was named to six Pro Bowls. He was named second-team All-Pro twice. For five years, Alderman and Ron Yary gave the Vikings one of the league’s best tackle combos. 

After Alderman? Going chronologically, here are some of the players that I’d consider to be the next member of the Vikings Ring of Honor.

Dave Osborn

Bobby Bryant

Ed White

Jeff Siemon

Sammy White

Tommy Kramer

Anthony Carter

Gary Zimmerman

Keith Millard

Henry Thomas

Ed McDaniel

Jake Reed

Robert Griffith

Matt Birk

Antoine Winfield

Steve Hutchinson

Chad Greenway

Jared Allen

Gary Zimmerman’s Ring of Honor omission is probably more unfortunate than puzzling. He was one of the best offensive tackles of his era. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s one of the few players in league history to be named to two All-Decade teams (1980s and 1990s). I feel like many think of him as a Denver Bronco despite the fact that he spent more time in Minnesota. Unfortunately, a contract dispute resulted in his departure from the Vikings. I don’t think that he left with happy feelings. Perhaps those unhappy feelings remain. It’s the only thing that would explain his absence from the Vikings Ring of Honor. 

My Top 5 to be the next member of the Vikings Ring of Honor currently looks something like this.

Grady Alderman

Gary Zimmerman

Keith Millard

Antoine Winfield

Steve Hutchinson

Whether it’s for the Pro Football Hall oI Fame or the Vikings Ring of Honor, my Top 5 most deserving of being “next” rarely reflects that of those actually making the decisions. I believe that the next member of the Vikings Ring of Honor will be one of the following:

Steve Hutchinson

Antoine Winfield

Jared Allen