The Minnesota Vikings have a great receiver tradition. It can rival that of any team in the league. In only his sixth season, Justin Jefferson has added greatly to that tradition. If he eliminates off-field, knuckle-head stunts, Jordan Addison will further add to it. Perhaps Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton will make their own contributions. The tradition started with 1963 Rookie of Year Paul Flatley. Sammy White won that award in 1976. Randy Moss did the same in 1998. Percy Harvin did as well in 2009. Jefferson was robbed of the Rookie of the Year award in 2020. He did take home Offensive Player of the Year honors after his third season. The Vikings receivers through 65 years are a great, fun group.
Minnesota Vikings Receiver Tradition
Paul Flatley
Gene Washington
John Gilliam
Sammy White
Ahmad Rashad
Anthony Carter
Cris Carter
Jake Reed
Randy Moss
Nate Burleson
Sidney Rice
Percy Harvin
Adam Thielen
Stefon Diggs
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
That’s 16 receivers that were among the best in the league during the time they played. There are a handful more that had solid careers and contributed to the Vikings receiver tradition.
Jerry Reichow
John Henderson
Leo Lewis
Terry LeCount
Hassan Jones
Bernard Berrian
Jarius Wright
The Vikings great receiving tradition is highlighted by Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Both have a bust in Canton. Both are in the argument for best receivers to ever play. Moss is easily in that argument. In my opinion, so is Carter. No one ever caught the ball as well. No one!
I never thought another receiver could challenge Moss and Carter. Both were so damn great. Then Justin Jefferson arrived in Minnesota. He’s done more in five years than any receiver in league history. He’s unbelievable. He just has to get in the end zone more. Put his statistics next to Moss and touchdowns is the only stat that easily leans Moss’ way. In Jefferson’s touchdown defense, he’s had a few called back and spotted on the goal line. He’s had several more catches get the Vikings inside the five-yard line. Justin Jefferson’s work often turned into Dalvin Cook’s glory.
An underrated member of the Vikings great receiver tradition is John Gilliam. He was in Minnesota from 1972-75. During those four years he was the league’s best deep threat. His yard per catch averages were ridiculous.
1972: 22.0
1973: 21.6
1974: 22.2
1975: 15.5
Over 20 yards per catch is a rarity these days. It was in the 1970s as well. Gilliam was named to the Pro Bowl each season. The drop in 1975 was partly due to a bit more conservative offense that revolved around versatile running back Chuck Foreman. Gilliam’s 50 catches that season was his best total for the Vikings. I never understood his departure during the 1976 offseason. The arrival that same offseason of Sammy White in the draft and Ahmad Rashad in a trade helped explain it.
The trades/departures of Randy Moss, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Stefon Diggs were some of the most painful moments of my Vikings life. At least the Diggs trade led directly to the selection of Jefferson in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Jordan Addison has the talent to join the great Vikings receiver tradition. With his smooth route-running and sticky hands, he can easily be confused with Jefferson. The Jefferson-Addison duo is the best in the league. Addison must stop going astray off the field. Jalen Nailor is likely playing the 2025 with a 2026 free agency payday in mind. As a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tai Felton’s Vikings future is in front of him.
It’s been so fun watching the Vikings great receiver tradition all these years. With Justin Jefferson leading the way, the future looks as fun as the past has been.
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