Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Defensive Ends

It’s on to the defense. The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the defensive ends. 

Ever since the Purple People Eaters of the late 1960s and 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings have had a very good to great defensive tradition. Starting with the defensive ends, here’s a look at some of the players that make up that tradition.

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Defensive Ends

1.   Carl Eller 

2.   Chris Doleman 

3.   Jared Allen 

4.   Danielle Hunter

5.   Jim Marshall 

6.   Everson Griffen 

7.   Brian Robison 

8.   Doug Martin

9.   Mark Mullaney 

10. Lance Johnstone 

Carl Eller, Chris Doleman, and Jared Allen are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Danielle Hunter continues to build his Hall of Fame case. Then there’s Jim Marshall. He’s been on the Hall’s wait list for so long that it’s bordering on the ridiculous. 

Speaking of Hall of Fame waits, Carl Eller had about a 20-year wait. You look at his career and accolades and have to wonder, “Why the 20-year wait?”

1970s First-team All-Decade

5x 1st-team All-Pro

6x Pro Bowl

He also made 2nd-team All-Pro in a year he didn’t make the Pro Bowl

3x Top-10 in MVP voting

2nd to teammate Alan Page in the 1971 Defensive Player of the Year voting

A player has a career of that quality today and he’s probably going into the Hall on his first vote. Eller’s 20-year wait is one of the great mysteries of that voting process. 

On a Christmas night in 1989, I had a pretty good idea that Chris Doleman would end up in Canton. That was the night that he ran past and through Cincinnati Bengals all-everything tackle Anthony Munoz. He finished with 21 sacks that season. Jared Allen topped Doleman’s 21 sacks with 22 in 2011. The trade for Allen in 2008 was one of the best in Vikings franchise history. He was the final piece to an emerging defense. The defensive line of Allen, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, and Ray Edwards rivaled that of the Purple People Eaters. It was a damn sad day to see Danielle Hunter sign with the Houston Texans during the 2024 offseason. He had a brilliant eight-year career in Minnesota. He sat behind Brian Robison for a couple seasons. Despite playing limited snaps, he collected 12.5 sacks in his second season. There was no sitting after that. If he hadn’t missed all of the 2020 and most of the 2021 seasons, he would’ve collected over 100 sacks in those eight years. Five years after his career is done, there will be a Hall of Fame argument for Hunter. There’s been about a 40-year Hall of Fame argument for Jim Marshall. This is a very sensitive subject for Vikings fans. They see no argument. It’s sensitive because Marshall might be the most important player of the team’s first 20 years. He was the heart, soul, and leader of the great Vikings teams that went to four Super Bowls. He was also a great football player. 

Everson Griffen’s career was interesting. He sat behind Jared Allen for his first four years. And Allen rarely came off the field. Despite playing very limited snaps, anyone looking could see Griffen’s talent. The Vikings tried him at linebacker one training camp just to get him on the field. He was a gunner on punts. A 275-pound gunner! His first year as a starter was the first year of his second contract. He received a big second contract despite never having been a full-time player. He showed immediately that he deserved that contract. He was a mystery to the national media. He was even a mystery to his new coach, Mike Zimmer. Griffen was one of the league’s best pass rushers for the rest of his career. Brian Robison played all of his 11 seasons in Minnesota. Fitting, as he was always and always will be a fan favorite. He was the less heralded member of a 2007 Vikings draft class that included Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice. Robison’s career would be a lot like his status in that draft class. Initially, he played behind Ray Edwards for four years. Then he played in the shadow of Jared Allen and Everson Griffen. He even played in the shadow of Danielle Hunter while starting ahead of him. Through it all, Robison was a very good and productive football player. Doug Martin and Mark Mullaney had the misfortune of being drafted to replace legends. Even though I thought and hoped that Carl Eller and Jim Marshall would play forever, their great Vikings careers were going to eventually end. It was hoped that Martin and Mullaney would simply continue the team’s great defensive end tradition. Those are brutal expectations. Martin got off to a decent start. His 11.5 sacks in the strike-shortened 1982 season led the league. He followed that up with 13 sacks in 1983. Sack-wise those were the best of his 10 years in Minnesota. He had a couple nine-sack years later in the decade. Mullaney’s career was a little less productive but he was a strong contributor on the defensive line for all of his 11-year career.

Lance Johnstone edged out Al Noga and Ray Edwards for #10. I decided that Johnstone had a greater impact despite playing fewer snaps. Johnstone is one of the Vikings most underrated free agent signings. He played in Minnesota from 2001-05. His only season as a full-time starter was 2002. He was the definition of a designated pass rusher. He collected 41 sacks over those five years. He had 10 sacks in 2003 and 11 in 2004. He was an impact pass rusher for the Vikings. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Centers

The receiver and defensive line traditions of the Minnesota Vikings are among the NFL’s best. The Vikings also have a strong center tradition. It helps that the tradition started with a Hall of Fame player that didn’t miss a game for 17 years. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Centers

1.   Mick Tingelhoff

Mick Tingelhoff was a remarkable football player. From 1962-78, Tingelhoff started every game that the Vikings played. It was an unbelievable streak. His best years were the mid 1960s. He was All-Pro for six consecutive seasons. He should’ve made it to Canton long before he finally did. Tingelhoff kicked off the Vikings strong center tradition. 

2.   Matt Birk

3.   Jeff Christy

4.   John Sullivan

5.   Dennis Swilley

6.   Kirk Lowdermilk

7.   Garrett Bradbury

8.   Joe Berger

9.   Pat Elflein

10. Bill Lapham

10. Adam Schreiber 

From 1962-2014, the fulcrum of the offensive line was in steady hands. Mick Tingelhoff to Dennis Swilley to Kirk Lowdermilk to Jeff Christy to Matt Birk to John Sullivan. While Christy and Birk were the only centers after Tingelhoff to receive post-season honors, all of them were solid to better football players. Then we get to the offensive line issues of the past decade. Joe Berger was a nice fill-in during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Pat Elflein was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft to be the next great center. He showed promise as a rookie but then things started to fade. Garrett Bradbury was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was definitely drafted to be the next great center. While he showed unique quickness traits and had some strong moments he never could quite overcome his relatively small stature. Bigger, stronger defensive linemen often overwhelmed him. Unfortunately for Bradbury and the Vikings, the NFL has been filled with bigger, stronger, and talented defensive tackles. The Vikings had two centers that held the job for a single season. Bill Lapham was the first Vikings center in 1961. Adam Schreiber was the starter in 1993 as the Vikings transitioned from Lowdermilk to Christy. 

Perhaps it’s because he’s never played the position before but current Vikings center Blake Brandel feels more like Adam Schreiber than Mick Tingelhoff. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Guards

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the offensive guards.

As with the offensive tackles, the best guards in the franchise history of the Vikings are topped by two Hall Famers. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Guards

1.   Randall McDaniel

2.   Steve Hutchinson

With apologies to John Hannah and Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel is the best guard I’ve ever watched. From that funky stance to his unreal speed, he was fun to watch from snap to whistle. Thanks to the genius “poison pill,” Steve Hutchinson is the Vikings best free agent signing. McDaniel and Hutchinson were great but very different guards. McDaniel was freakishly athletic and strong. Nothing he did seemed normal for an offensive lineman. Hutchinson was a big, strong monster of a football player. He looked like a guard and played like one of the best guards of any era. 

3.   Ed White

It’s easy to look past a guard on an offensive line that had a couple of players with busts in Canton. Ed White played between Mick Tingelhoff and Ron Yary. If anyone on the offensive line got a bit of attention it was one, or both, of the eventual Hall of Famers. Yary and Tingelhoff were great. So was White. He was the bully of that offensive line. A defensive lineman at Cal, White played guard with the aggressiveness of a defensive lineman. It was a damn shame that he was shipped to the San Diego Chargers while he was still in his prime. He has a Hall of Fame argument that’s yet to be heard. 

4.   David Dixon

5.   Anthony Herrera

6.   Milt Sunde

7.   Charles Goodrum

8.   Wes Hamilton

9.   Terry Tausch

10. Brandon Fusco

After McDaniel, Hutchinson, and White, the best remaining guards in Vikings franchise history can be presented in almost any order. I like David Dixon and Anthony Herrera next. Each played guard opposite one of the Vikings Hall of Famers. Dixon played his best years opposite McDaniel. Herrera played his best years opposite Hutchinson. Huge Dixon and aggressive Herrera were very good players on the right side. Milt Sunde was the Vikings first solid guard. He formed a nice left side with tackle Grady Alderman from 1964-67. Sunde flipped sides and formed a nice right-side with tackle Ron Yary until White took over. In the 1970s, Charles Goodrum was a solid left guard on the Vikings first great offensive line. As the Vikings transitioned from their great 1970s offensive line, Wes Hamilton and Terry Tausch had solid stints as starting guards in the 1980s. Just as Brandon Fusco looked to be on a trajectory that would put him on the top half of this ranking, injuries slowed and ultimately ended his promising career in Minnesota. 

The Vikings overhauled the interior of the offensive line last offseason. They spent heavily in free agency for Will Fries. They spent their first round pick on Donovan Jackson. Fries plays on the right. Jackson plays on the left. They are easily the most talented pair of Vikings guards since Hutchinson and Herrera. Hopefully, both soar up this list. 

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Offensive Tackles

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the offensive tackles. 

The list of the best offensive tackles in Vikings franchise history is topped by a couple Hall of Famers. After that, it’s a bunch of solid football players. When their careers are done, the current tackles could challenge those near the top. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Tackles

1.   Ron Yary

2.   Gary Zimmerman

Ron Yary was arguably the league’s best offensive tackle for the duration of his 14 years in Minnesota. He was All-Pro from 1971-76. He has a bust in Canton. Yary was a great football player. Due to a Super Bowl title in his final season, some think of Gary Zimmerman more for his Denver Broncos days. His seven years in Minnesota were, by far, his best. When I think back to the play of Yary and Zimmerman, the game just seemed easy for both of them. The never looked stressed by the players they were tasked with blocking. 

3.   Grady Alderman

Grady Alderman is one of the most underrated players in Vikings history. He was the Vikings left tackle from 1961-74. He went to six Pro Bowls. In my opinion, he should get more attention for the Vikings Ring of Honor. He was a franchise cornerstone through the team’s first decade and into the Super Bowl years. He’s certainly been waiting the longest. 

4.   Todd Steussie

Todd Steussie was a very good offensive tackle. He was also dependable. He started all but one game in his seven seasons with the Vikings. He formed an excellent left side with guard Randall McDaniel. And he went to Cal.

5.   Brian O’Neill

6.   Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill is the current right tackle. Christian Darrisaw is the current left tackle. The two arguably form the best tackle duo in Vikings franchise history. O’Neill will probably end his career right behind Zimmerman on this list. Darrisaw has Hall of Fame potential and could end his career challenging Yary. 

7.   Tim Irwin

Tim Irwin was a solid, reliable tackle for over a decade. From 1983-93, he started every game. Irwin is one of the most underrated players in Vikings franchise history. And he coached Harrison Smith’s youth football team. 

8.   Korey Stringer

Korey Stringer’s shocking death during the 2001 training camp will always top his legacy. He was a very good football player and an even better person. 

RIP Big K. 

9.   Matt Kalil

After his rookie season, it felt like Matt Kalil was on the verge of a career destined for a bust in Canton. He made the Pro Bowl in his first season but never returned to that level of play. Nagging injuries kept him from reaching the potential he showed in that first season. 

10. Bryant McKinnie

Bryant McKinnie is probably the most frustrating player in all my years following the team. He had the talent to top this list. Unfortunately, he never showed the desire to do so. He finally made the Pro Bowl in his eighth season. He was kicked out of the game before it was even played. An indication of his ridiculous talents is that he was able to skate through 12 years in the NFL and look back on a respectable career. He could’ve been so much more. 

Minnesota Vikings New Front Office

New Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has been on the job for a few weeks. He’s spent that time catching up on the roster and crafting his front office. Regarding the latter, the Vikings announced some changes.

Hires:

Andrew Healy - Assistant General Manager

Trent Kirchner - Assistant General Manager

Tyer Hamblin - Director of Football Strategy

Ryan Pace - Football Adviser

Azzaam Kapadia - Assistant Director of Pro Scouting

At his introductory press conference, Nolan Teasley said that he was “guided by evaluation and anchored by data.”  In Andrew Healy and Trent Kirchner, he has his data and evaluation bookends. With a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale and a Ph.D in economics from MIT, Healy is undoubtedly committed to data. Kirchner has been scouting and evaluating football players for 26 years. Teasley brought Healy over from the Cleveland Browns and he brought Kirchner with him from the Seattle Seahawks. Azzaam Kapadia also comes from the Seahawks and is a rising scouting, film-watching machine. He was an undergrad at Virginia only three years ago. Now, he has a prominent talent evaluation role in the Vikings front office. Tyler Hamblin is returning to the NFL after spending nearly two years as Senior Product Success Manager at Teamworks. Prior to that intriguing job he worked for nearly eight seasons with the Browns. My guess is that he’s as much a Healy hire as a Teasley hire. Ryan Pace brings strong scouting experience and a failed GM run with the Chicago Bears. Despite the questionable decisions with the Bears, he did a lot of good things to get the job. He’ll be a strong resource in the Vikings front office. 

In addition to the five hires, the Vikings announced five promotions.

Dabness Atkins - Scouting Assistant

Chris French - Director of Football Quantitative Methods

Claire Morrison - Football Quantitative Methods

Jack Murphy - College Area Scout

Brian Schnorr - College Scout/BLESTO

The adjustments of the past few weeks resulted in the following front office. 

Minnesota Vikings New Front Office

General Manager: Nolan Teasley 

Assistant General Manager: Andrew Healy

Assistant General Manager: Trent Kirchner

Director of Football Strategy: Tyler Hamblin

Football Adviser: Ryan Pace

Director of Player Personnel: Ryan Monnens

Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Chisom Opara

Director of Pro Personnel: Sam DeLuca

Assistant Director of Pro Personnel: Azzaam Kapadia

Director of College Scouting: Mike Sholiton

National Scout: Sean Gustus

National Scout: David Williams

College Area Scout: Jake Essler

College Area Scout: Blaine Gramer

College Area Scout: Matt Kelly

College Area Scout: Steve Sabo

College Area Scout: Jack Murphy

College Area Scout: Michelle Mankoff

Pro Scout: Alex Dale

Scouting Coordinator: Taylor Brooks

Senior Football Operations Manager: Kaitlin Zarecki

Senior Manager of Football Administration: Emily Badis

Senior Manager of Family Engagement: Quinn Gjersvig

Director of Football Quantitative Methods: Chris French

Football Quantitative Methods Analyst: Cole Bransford

Senior Director of Football Information Systems: Luke Burson

Senior Database Administrator: Mike Desplenter

Football Information Systems Developer: Anthony Caron

Football Information Systems Developer: Derek McCormick

Scouting Assistant: Dabness Atkins

College Scout/BLESTO: Brian Schnorr

SQL Database Associate: Roman Hauch

Football Quantitative Methods Associate: Claire Morrison

Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Tight Ends

The ranking of the Top Ten Minnesota Vikings players at each position continues with the tight ends. It’s probably safe to say that the Vikings have had a good but not great tight end tradition.

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Tight Ends

1.   Steve Jordan

2.   Kyle Rudolph

3.   Jim Kleinsasser

The first three are easy. Steve Jordan played during an era in which tight ends were emerging as offensive weapons. He rivaled the likes of Ozzie Newsome, Todd Christensen, Keith Jackson, Mark Bavaro, and Shannon Sharpe. Jordan played 13 seasons for the Vikings. He was tapped for the Pro Bowl six of those seasons. Perhaps if the Vikings were contenders for more than a handful of those 13 seasons, Jordan would have a bust next to Newsome and Sharpe. Kyle Rudolph was a terrific tight end for all of his 10 seasons in Minnesota. Injuries forced a stuttering start to his career. When he was on the field, he was great. He made the Pro Bowl in his second season and was MVP of the game. He earned his second Pro Bowl in his seventh season. Throughout his Vikings career, it never really felt like he was as much a part of the offense as he should’ve been. During his last few seasons, he was often more blocker than receiver. Jim Kleinsasser was an awesome football player. Unfortunately, his awesomeness was as a blocker. Among fantasy football maniacs, that doesn’t get much attention. Kleinsasser, and Rudolph, should one day join Jordan in the Vikings Ring of Honor. 

4.   T.J. Hockenson

T.J. Hockenson is arguably the most gifted tight end in Vikings franchise history. The knee injury as a result of a cheap shot from a Detroit Lions safety ended his 2023 season. That was his best season and things haven’t been quite the same since. It looks like this could be his last season in Minnesota. 

5.   Joe Senser

One of the great “What ifs” in Vikings franchise history is Joe Senser. As a rookie in 1980, he showed a lot of promise with 42 catches, 447 yards, and 7 touchdowns. In his second season, he was brilliant. 79 catches, 1004 yards, and 8 touchdowns. It was the most productive season by a Vikings tight end. The strike-shortened 1982 season was a wash for Senser, the Vikings, and the league. A knee injury in 1983 wiped out his fourth season. Senser’s career was over after his fifth season. Joe Senser had the talent to be one of the game’s great tight ends. 

6.   Visanthe Shiancoe

7.   Josh Oliver

8.   Jermaine Wiggins

9.   Stu Voigt

10. Byron Chamberlain

Visanthe Shiancoe had a solid five years with the Vikings. In particular, he really seemed to fit in well with the Brett Favre-led 2009 offense. Josh Oliver is right behind Jim Kleinsasser as a blocker. I appreciate tight ends that haven’t forgotten about the blocking responsibilities of the position. Oliver also provides a giant target in the passing game. Jermaine Wiggins provided Daunte Culpepper a reliable target when he joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2004. Wiggins had 71 and 69 catches in his first two seasons. His third, and final, season in Minnesota was less productive with Brad Johnson throwing the ball. Stu Voigt was the Vikings tight end of my youth. There’s fondness for him for that reason. I remember being very annoyed when a preseason magazine described him as a mediocre player. His receiving production was respectable for his era. His blocking was always a strength. Voigt was much better than mediocre. Byron Chamberlain rounds out the Vikings Top Ten Tight Ends. He only played two seasons in Minnesota. His first season ended with an invitation to the Pro Bowl. 

Top 10 Minnesota VIkings Receivers

The ranking of the Top 10 Minnesota Vikings players at each continues with the receivers. The receiver tradition of the Vikings can rival that of any team in the NFL. Two Vikings receivers have busts in Canton and the sculpting of a bust for the third can probably begin. Receiver has always been my favorite position. Following the Vikings receivers for the past 50+ years have been an amazing treat. 

Top Ten Minnesota Vikings Receivers

1. Cris Carter

2. Randy Moss

3. Justin Jefferson

There isn’t a team in the league that can challenge the Vikings top three receivers. Most people would probably have Randy Moss over Cris Carter. I get it. Moss is the most physically gifted receiver to ever play. I have Carter #1 simply because he and Alan Page are my favorite Vikings. It’s a personal thing. As a fan of receivers, I never thought I’d ever see a Vikings receiver could rival Carter and Moss. Along came Justin Jefferson. Just as I thought I’d never see a receiver challenge Carter and Moss. I never thought I’d ever see a player challenge Carter and Page. Jefferson is doing both. He’s done so much already, it’s unbelievable that he’s only played six seasons. He’s a brilliant, fun receiver and football player. And person. 

4. Anthony Carter

It’s hard to believe that Cris Carter was once the second Carter to Anthony Carter. If Anthony Carter had come straight to the Vikings rather than slumming it in the USFL for three years, he’d have a better Hall of Fame argument. His destruction of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1987 Divisional Playoffs will always be remembered. 

5. Ahmad Rashad

Another receiver that should’ve gotten to the Vikings sooner was Ahmad Rashad. If he’d played his entire career with Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer, he’d be in the Hall of Fame. For all of his seven years in Minnesota, he was one of the best receivers in the league. 

6. Percy Harvin

It’s a shame that Percy Harvin spent only four seasons with the Vikings. He’s at #6 on this list mostly for his unreal athleticism. Harvin was one of the most fun, most explosive Vikings players I’ve ever seen. In terms of pure explosive talent, he’s right there with Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson. I hated to see Harvin leave Minnesota. I really hated to see him leave for Seattle. 

7. Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen is a great Minnesota story. His is also a great football story. He was also an excellent receiver. From the blocked punt and touchdown return against the Carolina Panthers as an anonymous special teams player to all of his brilliant catches, Thielen was a fun football player. My favorite Adam Thielen moment will always be his complete dismantling of New Orleans Saints corner Marshon Lattimore in the game that ended with the Minneapolis Colts. Thielen forced Lattimore into holding and pass interference penalties on the same play. And he still made the catch over the stunned and beaten corner. 

8. Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs’ time in Minnesota is interesting. Highlighted by the Minneapolis Miracle, his play was often outstanding. Quickness, route-running, hands. He had fun receiving traits. On and off the field, he was also quite unpredictable. That unpredictability eventually sent him to the Buffalo Bills and brought Justin Jefferson to Minnesota. 

9. Sammy White

Sammy White exploded on the NFL scene as a rookie. He was the second of four Vikings receivers to earn the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Sammy White and Ahmad Rashad were the first great Vikings receiver tandem. 

10. Jake Reed

Cris Carter and Jake Reed were one of the league’s best receiving duos for much of the 1990s. For four seasons, both gained over 1,000 yards. Playing in Carter’s shadow and then pushed to #3 when Randy Moss was drafted, Reed will always be an underrated receiver 

10. John Gilliam

It’s easy to get lost in the Vikings great receiver tradition. John Gilliam shouldn’t be forgotten. He came to Minnesota the same year Fran Tarkenton returned (1972). They immediately had a big play connection. From 1972-74, Gilliam averaged 22.0, 21.6, and 22.2 yards per reception. That’s ridiculous during any era. It was especially ridiculous during an era in which the league’s rules didn’t do much to aid the passing game.