Minnesota Vikings All-Time Team

Ranking the Greatest Minnesota Vikings players has me thinking about a Vikings All-Time Team. Many of the positions are obvious. Other than tight end, the offensive positions are mostly taken by Hall of Famers. Other than the line, the defensive positions are mostly wide open. Here’s one look at the best team in Vikings franchise history.

Minnesota Vikings All-Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Fran Tarkenton

Running Back

Adrian Peterson

Fullback

Chuck Foreman

Typically, I think of Bill Brown as the Vikings best fullback. Chuck Foreman lined up as a fullback his first couple years in the league. He had a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. At his peak, he was arguably the best back in the league. He was the most versatile back in the league. It’s fun to think of Adrian Peterson and Chuck Foreman in the same backfield. 

Wide Receivers

Cris Carter

Randy Moss

It feels unfathomable but Justin Jefferson is on pace to challenge for one of these spots. 

Tight End

Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan vs Kyle Rudolph. Both had excellent Vikings careers. If T.J. Hockenson has several seasons like his first ten games with the team, he could join the debate. 

Tackles

Gary Zimmerman

Ron Yary

Guards

Randall McDaniel

Steve Hutchinson

In doing these teams, I try to keep the players in the position that they played on the field. Randall McDaniel and Steve Hutchinson are the two best guards in Vikings franchise history. Both played left guard. I can’t leave either off this team. I just can’t. On this team, Hutchinson flips to the right side. The best right guard in Vikings franchise history? That would be Ed White. 

Center

Mick Tingelhoff

Defense

Defensive Ends

Carl Eller

Chris Doleman

Jared Allen has a serious argument to be one of the defensive ends on this team. 

Defensive Tackles

Alan Page

John Randle

Alan Page and John Randle are the best defensive tackles in franchise history. Kevin Williams was damn great as well. They all played essentially the same position. If I were to put a run-stuffing nose tackle-type player on this team, then there’s a difficult debate. Henry Thomas, Pat Williams, and Linval Joseph. I’d probably have them in that order. 

Linebackers

Matt Blair

Eric Kendricks

Chad Greenway

It’s tough to leave out Anthony Barr, Jeff Siemon, and any of the Vikings first great trio Wally Hilgenberg, Lonnie Warwick and Roy Winston. 

Cornerbacks

Antoine Winfield

Xavier Rhodes

Antoine Winfield is easy. The second corner spot comes down to Xavier Rhodes, Bobby Bryant, and Carl Lee. Maybe Nate Wright as well. Today, the choice is Rhodes. At his peak, he was arguably the best cover corner in the league. If only that peak had lasted a little longer. 

Safeties

Paul Krause

Harrison Smith

Not having Joey Browner on this team is a crime. In terms of skill/ability/talent, Harrison Smith and Browner are probably the best safeties in franchise history. Paul Krause intercepted an NFL record 81 passes. On a list of league records least likely to be broken, that is at the top. He has be on this team. So does Smith. 

Special Teams

Kicker

Ryan Longwell

Punter

Chris Kluwe

Kick Returner

Cordarrelle Patterson

Punt Returner

Marcus Sherels

Special Teams

Joey Browner

Joey Browner first made his mark on special teams. At least, it gets him on this team. He’s one of the greatest players in franchise history.