Bobby Bryant had a long Ring of Honor wait. He wrapped up his great 13-year playing career after the 1980 season. His long wait has finally been rewarded. It’s a much-deserved honor. As Fran Tarkenton said in the video conference revealing the honor, Bryant was one of the unsung heroes of the Vikings Super Bowl teams. He wasn’t one of the headliners of the great Vikings defenses from the late 1960s and through much of the 1970s. Some younger fans might not even know much about him. He was #20 in all the old films. The skinny, mustachioed fella. From 1969-73 in particular, the Vikings defenses were some of the best the league has ever seen. Everyone knew and knows the Purple People Eaters, the defensive line that included Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen. That front line got most of the attention, but not all of it. A little was spared for all-time interception leader and Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Paul Krause. The punishing linebacker trio of Roy Winston, Lonnie Warwick, and Wally Hilgenberg and hard-hitting safety Karl Kassulke rounded out the great defense when Bryant entered the starting lineup at right cornerback in 1969. Originally selected in the seventh round of the 1967 NFL Draft, he endured a slow start to his NFL career. After a knee injury during his rookie preseason, the Vikings placed him on the team’s taxi squad (something similar to today’s practice squad). To stay football-ready, Bryant spent his rookie season with the Des Moines Warriors of the minor Professional Football League of America. He made the team and appeared in all 14 games in 1968. With two interceptions, he showed a glimpse of the big-play ability that would highlight his career. In 1969, he claimed the starting position that he’d hold for the next 12 years. That season, the defense and a rugged offense led by scrappy quarterback Joe Kapp drove the Vikings to their first Super Bowl. Bryant was a defensive mainstay until his retirement after the 1980 season. His career is highlighted by 51 interceptions. That ranks second in team history to Krause’s 53. His four career interception return TDs is tied with Harrison Smith for the franchise record. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 1975 and 1976 seasons. If postseason accolades included playoff performances, Bryant would have had handfuls of Pro Bowls and All-Pros. He was a big play machine in the playoffs. In the 1973 NFC Championship against the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant intercepted Roger Staubach at the two-yard line to keep the Cowboys out of the end zone. His fourth quarter, 63-yard pick-six iced the 27-10 win. In the 1976 NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams, he turned what should’ve been an early 3-0 Rams lead into a 7-0 Vikings lead. After a goal-line stand forced the Rams to attempt a short field goal, Nate Allen blocked the field goal attempt and Bryant scooped up the bounding ball and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. I can still see that play as if it happened today. The Rams never seemed to recover from that 10-point swing. Bryant added two interceptions in the game. His three big plays were instrumental in the 24-13 Vikings win. There were loads of stars on those great Vikings teams. It was easy to overlook the skinny cornerback. There was no overlooking his out-sized number of big plays. Those big plays and his steady play will put him in a spiffy purple jacket. He’s the first cornerback to receive the team’s top career honor. It’s very much deserved.
The Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
Fran Tarkenton, QB (1998)
Alan Page, DT (1998)
Jim Finks, GM (1998)
Bud Grant, Coach (1998)
Paul Krause, S (1998)
Fred Zamberletti, Trainer (1998)
Jim Marshall, DE (1999)
Ron Yary, OT (2001)
Korey Stringer, OT (2001)
Mick Tingelhoff, C (2001)
Carl Eller, DE (2002)
Cris Carter, WR (2003)
Bill Brown, RB (2004)
Jerry Burns, Coach (2005)
Randalll McDaniel, G (2006)
Chuck Foreman, RB (2007)
John Randle, DT (2008)
Scott Studwell, LB (2009)
Chris Doleman, DE (2011)
Matt Blair, LB (2012)
Joey Browner, S (2013)
Randy Moss, WR (2017)
Ahmad Rashad, WR (2017)
Dennis Green, Coach (2018)
Steve Jordan, TE (2019)
Kevin Williams, DT (2021)
Jared Allen, DE (2022)
Bobby Bryant, CB (2023)
There’s a somewhat questionable process to honors such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and this Ring of Honor. Once the initial congratulations fade, the inevitable question is asked. “Who’s next?” Bobby Bryant will have his day. He’ll be presented to the US Bank crowd. Speeches, great words, handshakes, hugs, purple jacket, all of it. Fans, media, everyone have already moved on to that inevitable question. “Who’s next?”
We all have our favorites and there are so many great Vikings players deserving of being next. One thing that we must keep in mind is that just because a particular player didn’t get tapped for the honor this year, next year, or the year after, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t deserving. All 28 members of the Vikings Ring of Honor are deserving. There are dozens of former Vikings that should/will join them. Each decade brings more. It doesn’t feel possible to induct all of them. I suppose that keeps it a very selective and prestigious honor. Due to my passion for football’s past, I always start with those that have been waiting the longest when considering honors like this. Until the Vikings make it to their next Super Bowl, the franchise’s “glory days” are the years from 1969-76. This is why I feel that Bryant was a great pick to be this year’s “next.” There are a few more players from that era that are still waiting.
Grady Alderman
Ed White
Gene Washington
John Gilliam
Jeff Siemon
Sammy White
Grady Alderman was the Vikings left tackle from 1961-73. While left tackle wasn’t the distinctive position in the 1960s that it is today, Alderman’s steady presence on the left side put the great Ron Yary on the right side when he took the field in 1969. Alderman was a Pro Bowl regular during the 1960s, earning the honor from 1963-67 and 1969. He was 2nd-team All-Pro in 1965 and 1969. He and Jim Marshall are the only players that were lineup constants every year of the franchise’s first decade.
As a Cal grad and one-time Cal offensive line coach, Ed White is a personal favorite. He was a defensive lineman in college so his transition to the NFL was significant. From 1970-73, he played next to Alderman. From 1975-77, he and Yary formed a tremendous right-side for the Vikings. Unfortunately, White was traded to the San Diego Chargers after the 1977 season. He was still in his prime as his eight strong years there were enough to convince Dan Fouts that he should get Hall of Fame consideration. If not for that trade, White might already be in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
Gene Washington and John Gilliam are underrated members of the Vikings great receiver tradition. Washington’s career is something of a puzzle. Just as he was ascending, Pro Bowls in 1969 and 1970, he started to fade. I know that injuries played a big role but it felt like there was more to it. During his four years in Minnesota, Gilliam may have been the league’s best deep threat. From 1972-74, he averaged a ridiculous 21.9 yards/catch. He also played a significant role in my evolution as a Vikings and football fan. His departure after the 1975 season was shocking. As a naive kid, I didn’t think that a player’s time with a team was a temporary thing.
I’ve always been fond of receivers. It’s the position I played. It’s the position that easily draws my attention. John Gilliam was my introduction. Sammy White and Ahmad Rashad were my weekly tutorial. White was an immediate favorite as he was outstanding as a rookie. As a big-play threat, he reminded me of Gilliam. White’s only Pro Bowls came during his first two seasons. Rashad eventually got most of the receiving attention but White’s first six years were strong.
If anyone can handle the torture, watch/re-watch Super Bowl XI. Through the pain of that game, you’ll watch Jeff Siemon make what feels like every tackle. With four Pro Bowls, he was hardly an unknown. It just feels like his career has been somewhat forgotten over the years. With Scott Studwell and Eric Kendricks, he’s one of the best middle linebackers in franchise history. With those four Pro Bowls, Siemon is the most decorated.
Those are six players from the Vikings “glory days” that I believe are deserving of Ring of Honor consideration.
If I were to pick a top 10 to answer the “who’s next” question, it might look something like this.
Grady Alderman
Ed White
Tommy Kramer
Anthony Carter
Gary Zimmerman
Keith Millard
Carl Lee
Antoine Winfield
Steve Hutchinson
Chad Greenway
While Grady Alderman is my #1, due mostly to his long wait, the order is more chronological than a ranking.
Gary Zimmerman has always been a curious one for me. He’s a Hall of Famer and the best left tackle in Vikings franchise history. A contentious contract dispute resulted in a trade to the Denver Broncos after the 1992 season. Even though his best years were in Minnesota, he’s considered by many to be more Bronco than Viking. I believe that he still holds some animosity towards the Vikings. Nothing else explains why he isn’t already in the Vikings Ring of Honor. I might have to go back and listen to his Hall of Fame speech to see if there’s any hint of lingering issues with the Vikings. His play on the field for seven years in Minnesota was gold and purple jacket worthy. He never looked stressed in his play. Everything looked easy for him. Zimmerman next to Randall McDaniel was always a beautiful, comfortable site.
Alderman and Keith Millard might be my #1 and #2. Perhaps it’s because an injury ruined what was sure to be a career destined for Canton, Millard’s shortened career has always made me sick. The Vikings have a tremendous defensive tackle tradition. Alan Page and John Randle are Hall of Famers. I believe that Kevin Williams will one day join them. Millard’s play during the 1988 and 1989 seasons rivals even that of Page’s 1971 NFL MVP season. To put Millard’s amazing play in 1988 and 1989 in today’s terms. He was every bit the offense-wrecker that Aaron Donald has been. Those two seasons were the obvious high points of Millard’s abbreviated career but he collected 51 sacks over his first five seasons. He was more than just those two great seasons. Unfortunately, a knee injury in 1990 wiped out that season and the next. He was never the same player after that. At only 28, he still had so much career still in front of him.
As soon as Adrian Peterson officially retires, if he ever does, he probably zips to the front of the Ring of Honor line.
Just to bring it back to the present, Congratulations Bobby Bryant.
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