Vikings - Saints

The Minnesota Vikings dodged any possibility of a “trap” game by handling the New Orleans Saints by a score of 23-10. The game felt a bit more one-sided than a 10-point margin. The Vikings defense completely shut down the Saints offense. The Vikings offense finally showed some life. It was a welcome sight. The win bumps the record to 5-0 as the Vikings enter their Week 6 bye.

The Vikings defense and special teams were the main reason for the first four wins. The offensive support was so limited that the only points scored in two of those wins came from field goals. That changed yesterday against the Saints as Kyler Murray showed some comfort in the Vikings offense. He finally played with some rhythm. 

Murray’s game:

24 completions

30 attempts

229 yards

1 TD

10 carries

51 yards

It’s easier to get comfortable and play with rhythm in an offense when Justin Jefferson is a part of it. Due to injuries this was Murray’s first full game with Jefferson. If this is Murray’s baseline play moving forward, the Vikings should be a tough out each week. 

The Vikings defense continues to stifle offenses. 

Some stats against the Saints:

9 first downs

43 total plays

142 total yards

2 interceptions

Last week, the Dolphins ran 37 plays against the Vikings defense. This week, the Saints ran 43 plays. That’s a pretty light load. So light that it’s as if the Vikings played about one full game over the past two weeks. 

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough entered this game averaging about 300 passing yards. Yesterday, against the Vikings defense, Shough threw for 97 yards and two interceptions. The Saints had eight drives. Five went three-and-out. 

Despite being completely shut down for much of the game, the Saints did manage two touchdowns. Each originated from Vikings fumbles in the red zone. After kicking a field goal on their first possession of the game, the Vikings looked like they were driving for another score on their second possession. On third-and-one from the Saints 10-yard line, Aaron Jones Sr. gained enough to move the chains. Unfortunately, he fumbled the ball before he hit the ground. Saints defensive end Chase Young recovered the ball and returned it 27 yards to the Saints 34-yard line. The big play briefly flipped the momentum. For the only time the entire game, the Saints offense played with a spark and some purpose. 66 yards and a two-yard Kendre Miller touchdown. The next fumble was even more sudden. Late in the third quarter, receiver Myles Price fumbled as the Vikings were driving for another score. Saints safety Jonas Sanker recovered the football and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown. On each occasion, the Vikings were on the verge of putting some scoreboard distance between them and the Saints. Each time, the Vikings generously put the ball on the ground. Credit the Saints for taking advantage of that generosity. If the Vikings were more secure with the football, the score of this game is probably 33-0 rather than 23-13. 

While it was considerably improved, the Vikings offense still has a lot of room for growth. With Kyler Murray’s growing comfort in the offense, that growth appears within reach. If they can get some players healthy, the growth feels nearly certain. Receiver Jordan Addison, running back Jordan Mason, and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw should be back after the Week 6 bye. Tight end T.J. Hockenson left yesterday’s game after only two plays with a concussion. He should also be back. That’s a lot of offensive talent returning the next time the Vikings takes the field. 

The Vikings enter their bye week undefeated. 5-0 with a two game lead over their three division foes. It’s a nice place to be. Two of the five wins were against two of those division foes (Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears). Undefeated and two weeks to get some players healthy. It’s going to be a nice and welcome week off. 

Flea Flicker Week 5 Predictions

It’s Already October. It’s already Week 5 of the NFL season. Here are some guesses at the games. 

Week 5 brings the first byes:

Byes: Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings must go into their Week 6 bye at 5-0.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jaguars

Another idiotic international game. London is a second home for the Jaguars so the ridiculous logistics often work to their advantage. Plus, it looks like the Eagles are going through some things. 

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Bears

It feels like the media and fans have finally stopped wrongly calling this the league’s oldest rivalry. For the record, it’s the third oldest after Bears-Cardinals and Packers-Cardinals. Anyway, the Packers are a mess.

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Texans

The preseason Super Bowl contender finally gets their first win. 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Bengals

The plucky Dolphins remain winless.

Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

After a surprising 3-0 start, the Raiders take another step back to reality. 

Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets

Pick: Browns

The Browns continue their surprising run.

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Colts

The clown show with Aaron Rodgers continues.

New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Commanders

The Giants are a couple losses away from J.J. McCarthy starting. 

Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

Sean Payton’s playcalling won’t help. The Chargers finally get their first win. 

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Lions

Lions roll.

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: 49ers

49ers roll.

Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Falcons 

With Lamar Jackson, this could’ve been a real fun game. Without Lamar Jackson, who knows? 

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams

Pick: Bills

Some have circled this as a Super Bowl preview. Both teams have only occasionally looked the part. Its still so early but the Bills have shown a bit more fight than the Rams. 

New Orleans Saints All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings play the Saints in New Orleans tomorrow. The Saints entered the league as an expansion team in 1967. They were terrible for most of their first twenty years. Fans even covered their heads with paper bags due to the team’s ineptitude. It was bad. It was so bad that Archie Manning barely survived the 1970s. Under the guidance of former Vikings architect Jim Finks, the Saints got better in the late 1980s. They made the playoffs for the first time after the strike-impacted 1987 season. The Vikings quickly dispatched them from those playoffs. It was in the 2000s that the Saints truly started to rise. Head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees led them to consistency and success. The Saints got some degree of revenge when they robbed the Vikings of a Super Bowl appearance in the 2009 NFC Championship game. The Saints went on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Since the conference championship robbery, the Vikings and Saints have developed something of a rivalry. On the eve of the big game, here’s a look at some of the best players in New Orleans Saints franchise history. 

New Orleans Saints All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

Drew Brees

Running Back

Alvin Kamara

Fullback

Chuck Muncie

Wide Receivers

Marques Colston

Joe Horn

Tight End

Jimmy Graham

Offensive Tackles

Willie Roaf

Stan Brock

Offensive Guards

Carl Nicks

Jahri Evans

Center

Joel Hilgenberg

Defense

Defensive Ends

Cameron Jordan

Wayne Martin

Defensive Tackles

La’Roi Glover

Derland Moore

Linebackers

Rickey Jackson

Sam Mills

Pat Swilling

Cornerbacks

Marshon Lattimore

Dave Waymer

Safeties

Tom Myers

Roman Harper

Special Teams

Kicker 

Morten Anderson

Punter

Thomas Morstead

Returner

Tyrone Hughes

Minnesota Vikings 2027 Draft Picks

With trades often involving future draft picks, it can be difficult to keep track of which picks a team has in an upcoming NFL Draft. After the trade of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick, I was wondering what picks the Minnesota Vikings currently held in the next draft. Fortunately, the team’s website had the answer. 

Minnesota Vikings 2027 Draft Picks

First Round

Second Round

Third Round

Third Round (from Philadelphia Eagles in the Jonathan Greenard trade)

Fifth Round

Fifth Round (from Carolina Panthers in the Adam Thielen trade)

Fifth Round (from the New York Giants in the J.J. McCarthy trade)

Sixth Round (from the New England Patriots in the Walter Rouse trade)

Sixth Round (from the New York Jets in the Harrison Phillips trade)

***

The Vikings currently hold nine picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. It could bump to 10 draft picks if the Vikings receive a compensatory pick for the loss of receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency. 

The Vikings currently don’t hold picks in the fourth and seventh round. It’s nice to have two picks in the third and three picks in the fifth but it isn’t nice to sit out the first round of Day 3. 

That trade for Adam Thielen before the start of the 2025 season sure was expensive. It felt expensive at the time. It feels even more expensive with the loss of that fourth-round pick on the horizon. Having an extra fifth from that trade does offset a little bit of the pain of not having a fourth. It was nice to have Thielen back in Minnesota but he didn’t do much and was eventually sent on to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The sixth-round pick from the New England Patriots for Walter Rouse originally belonged to the Vikings. That pick was sent to the Patriots during the 2026 NFL Draft in the trade that put the Vikings in position to select Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne. Last summer’s trade of Rouse returned the pick to where it belongs. 

Now, back to thinking about the 2026 season. 

Another Vikings Roster Move

The Minnesota Vikings made several roster moves on Tuesday. None of the moves garnered much attention across the league. That changed on Wednesday. The Vikings signed a couple receivers to the practice squad. 

Jeshaun Jones 

Odell Beckham Jr. 

Jeshaun Jones spent the first three weeks of the season on the league’s suspended list. He joined the 53-man roster last week after his suspension ended and was released from the roster on Tuesday. Now, he’s back on the practice squad. 

Jeshaun Jones joining the practice squad wasn’t the move that received league-wide attention. That was the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad. At 33, and a few years removed from impacting games, Beckham still gets attention. I guess it’s an indication of the star that he once was and personality that he still is. The New York Giants selected Beckham 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He ripped up the league immediately with postseason honors each of his first three seasons. After five years in New York, Beckham bounced to Cleveland for 2.5 years. He joined the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. There, he met and played for then Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Beckham quickly established a role with that stacked Rams team. It was a role that contributed to the team rolling to Super Bowl LVI. Just as it looked like Beckham was going to contend for MVP of the big game, he tore his ACL. It’s an injury that ended his Super Bowl and took away his 2022 season. It was the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024. No team in 2025. He returned to the New York Giants for the 2026 season. The reunion lasted three games. The last time Beckham played near a Beckham-level with the Ravens in 2023. At 33, his days are behind him. Perhaps he can still flash the freaky talent that he once had. Perhaps playing with long-time Louisiana and LSU pal Justin Jefferson will rekindle some of the magic that he once had. Perhaps his familiarity with O’Connell will ease the transition to a new team. 

The Vikings signing Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad is no great commitment. It’s probably more like a prolonged job interview. His veteran presence can be a benefit. He’s a playful individual and his long-time friendship with Justin Jefferson could be fun. I think that he’s too far removed from his impact days for his sometimes problematic personality to be a problem. Some have speculated that Beckham’s signing might be an indication that Jefferson’s ankle injury is more serious than reported. Why does there always have to be a negative reason for a move? I believe that Beckham’s signing is more an opportunity to see if a player still has some magic left. The Vikings offense could use a boost. I think it’s far more likely that Jauan Jennings finally makes an impact as a third receiver than Beckham seeing the field as the fourth or fifth. While it’d be fun to see two Louisiana and LSU legends on the field together, I believe that signing Beckham to the practice squad is simply an opportunity to see if he has anything left. I believe that expectations have been set low. 

Vikings Roster Moves

A 4-0 start to the season doesn’t keep an NFL team from roster moves during the week. As they look toward Week 5, the Minnesota Vikings made several tweaks to the roster on Monday and Tuesday.

The Moves:

Placed G Donovan Jackson on Injured Reserve

Waived:

WR Jeshaun Jones

Released from Practice Squad:

P Johnny Hekker

RB Devin Neal

CB Natrone Brooks

Signed to Practice Squad:

OT Tristan Leigh

Waived from Injured Reserve:

CB Tyreek Chappell

Of course, the most significant of the roster moves is the loss of guard Donovan Jackson with a torn meniscus. He will have surgery and is expected to miss the season. Those that lean optimistic might hope to see him return for a long playoff run. While the Vikings offense has mostly struggled through the first four games, Jackson has been a solid and consistent presence on the offensive line. Paired with Christian Darrisaw, the Vikings have one of the best left sides in the league. Jackson’s loss is significant. Formerly undrafted and in his second season, Joe Huber is first up at left guard. He played well as a rookie least season against a talented Cleveland Browns defensive front. He held up when forced on the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Whether he can handle the job full-time for the rest of the season remains to be seen. He’s the top internal option. Perhaps, the Vikings will look around the league for an additional option.

As for the other roster moves, I was glad that Johnny Hekker was available when rookie punter Brett Thorson came out of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury. Hekker punted in Week 3 and Week 4. He started both games well but didn’t finish them well. It’ll be good to see Thorson back on the field. When Devin Neal was signed to the practice squad last week, I had some hope for him. I really like him coming out of Kansas when he was in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Jordan Mason on short-term injured reserve, the Vikings needed some running back depth. I thought that Neal could provide it. Apparently not. The Vikings signed offensive tackle Tristan Leigh as a priority undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. Through offseason workouts and training camp and bringing several desirable tackle traits, he projected as a roster long-shot. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster but was immediately signed to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad the next day. A month later, he’s back. Maybe he can play guard. 

The roster moves this week leave the Vikings with two open spots on the 53-man roster and two open spots on the practice squad. More roster moves are expected. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 4 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Miami Dolphins on Sunday 15-10. The defense and special teams were excellent. The offense finally got into a bit of a rhythm at the end of the game. Better late than never. Here are some of the players that helped secure the big win and keep the Vikings undefeated on the season.

Offensive Player of the Game

T.J. Hockenson, TE

Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray needed to get comfortable in the offense. It looked like he finally found some comfort when he started targeting T.J. Hockenson.

13 targets

13 catches

119 yards

Hockenson would’ve had an easy walk-in touchdown at the end of the game. It must have been tempting to get that touchdown seeing as the Vikings offense has had such difficulty scoring them. Instead, Hockenson wisely downed the play at the Dolphins two-yard line with two minutes to play. The first down secured the win as Murray only had to kneel down three times to drain the clock. 

Honorable Mention:

Aaron Jones Sr., RB

20 carries

94 yards

4 catches 

34 yards

128 total yards

Over the past three weeks, Jones has been the Vikings biggest offensive threat. Often, he’s been their only offensive threat.

Defensive Player of the Game

Dallas Turner, OLB

Once again, it’s difficult to pick a single player to be Defensive Player of the Week. Turner has been a regular contender. His two sacks, one forcing a fumble, of Malik Willis gets him the nod this week.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Will Reichard, K

Will Reichard is the best kicker in the league. Through four weeks, he’s probably the Vikings MVP. He scored all 15 points against the Dolphins. It’s just another game for Reichard. 

Honorable Mention:

Myles Price, Returner

Myles Price might’ve taken the honors this week if the offense had taken better advantage of his two big returns. He returned the opening kick 47 yards to midfield. The offense went three-and-out. He set the offense up nicely on their second possession with a 36-yard punt return to the Dolphins 38-yard line. The offense didn’t do much and had to settle for Reichard’s first field goal. 

Vikings - Dolphins

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Miami Dolphins 15-10. 

When I was a kid learning football in the 1970s, winning the game was all that mattered. It really didn’t matter how it looked or the margin. 10-7. 6-3. 15-10. Your team having more points than the other team at the end of the game was the only thing that mattered. Just win. Football in the 2000s is different. For many fans and most in the media, teams have to roll over teams for a win to really mean something. Points. There has to be a lot of points. It takes a lot of points for a team to be of value.

Because the Vikings managed five field goals, and more significantly no touchdowns, there are many unhappy fans. Fans being unhappy after a win feels weird. There were even grumbles when tight end T.J. Hockenson decided to secure the win rather than score a touchdown. That alone seemed to show that points are more important than a win. The Vikings are 4-0. Would the media and fans be happier if Kyler Murray was lighting up defenses but the team was 1-3? Who knows? 

It would’ve been nice if the Vikings had scored some touchdowns against one of the worst teams in the league but NFL games rarely follow a hoped-for script. The one objective every team schemes is having more points at the end of the game than their opponent.  

During the game, it was stressful that the Vikings wasted a 48-yard Myles Price kick return to open the game. Start around midfield and have to punt after three offensive plays? Very disappointing. Price set up the offense on their second possession at the Dolphins 38-yard line with a 36-yard punt return. While not quite as wasteful as the first “big” return, the Vikings could only move the ball nine yards and settled for a 47-yard Will Reichard field goal. It’s a good thing Reichard doesn’t miss because the Vikings offense is having serious difficulty putting the ball in the end zone. 

Myles Price is evolving into quite the special teams weapon. The Vikings have to take better advantage of the excellent field position he’s creating. 

The Vikings Defense. If the defense keeps playing like it’s playing, the Vikings will be in every game. 

The Vikings defense suffocated the Dolphins offense. The Dolphins could only manage eight first downs. Five of the nine possessions went three-and-out. Malik Willis passed for only 85 yards. The Dolphins managed only 198 yards of offense. If not for a couple Ollie Gordon II runs, that output would’ve been closer to 130 yards. 

The Dolphins had a drive at the end of the third quarter that was an outlier from their other eight possessions. That singular drive was only four plays for 55 yards. It was an outlier because each of the four plays gained yards in chunks.

17-yard pass to Malik Washington

9-yard run by Ollie Gordon II

17-yard pass to Malik Washington

12-yards touchdown run by Ollie Gordon II

It was shockingly quick and surgical. The drive was such an outlier that it felt like the Vikings defense simply took an ill-advised break. Ill-advised because it gave the Dolphins some momentum. That momentum didn’t last. 

Fortunately, the Vikings answered that shocking touchdown with their best offense of the season so far with Kyler Murray. It was just two possessions but the offense finally moved the ball. Perhaps, they moved the ball because Murray found a consistent target. T.J. Hockenson. It’s been a while since Hockenson has made an impact like he made yesterday. 

Hockenson’s day:

13 targets

13 catches

119 yards

He would’ve had an easy walk-in touchdown but wisely decided to down the play at the Dolphin’s two-yard line with two minutes to play. The wise play secured the win as three kneel-downs drained the clock. The Dolphins offense never held the ball again. That play crushed any hope they might’ve had. 

Murray on those final two possessions:

13/14 for 120 yards. 

Going in, this game against the Dolphins felt like it should be a get-right game for Kyler Murray. For most of the game he wasn’t getting right. The Dolphins hadn’t sacked a quarterback in the first three games. It took one play for them to get that first sack against the Vikings. Murray simply hasn’t looked comfortable in the offense. He finally looked a little comfortable on those last two drives. While Hockenson was often the target, he wasn’t always the target. Murray threw a nice 27-yarder to Jordan Addison on the second of the two drives. Hopefully, Murray can build on the end of this game. 

Getting Justin Jefferson back can only help in getting Murray right. 

The Vikings are 4-0 because of the outstanding play of the defense and special teams. The offense showed some spark at the end of this win over the Dolphins. It’s a start. Now, go to New Orleans and thrash the Saints next week. 

And, enough with the penalties. 11 penalties is too damn many penalties. 

Flea Flicker Week 4 Predictions

It’s already Week 4. Here are some guesses at the games. 

Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Vikings

Rematch of Super Bowl VIII goes to the Vikings. 

Indianapolis Colts @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Colts

The NFL’s ridiculous Europe games begin with this one. The travel and logistics of these international games often have a greater impact than the talent and scheme of the respective teams. It’s impossible to pick these stupid games. So, Colts.

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

These two teams were expected to battle for the AFC East title. Through three weeks, they are headed in different directions. The Bills look like the best team in the league. The Patriots have had a rough start to the season. 

New York Jets @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Bears

How is it that the Bears have played three of their first four games at home? The Jets continue their run through the NFC North. They gave the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions all they could handle the last two weeks. With three weeks without any travel, the Bears should be able to handle the Jets at home. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Bengals

This could be a fun game. 

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants

The Cardinals throwing a scare into the San Francisco 49ers last week is the only that gives me pause in this game.

Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Rams

After seeing the Eagles flopping around against the Chicago Bears, it’s difficult seeing them beating the Rams.

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Packers

Battle of the Bays. Even the Packers should be able to handle the Buccaneers without Baker Mayfield.

Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens roll.

Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans

Pick: Texans

It’s been a tough start for both teams. Just going with the home team.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs hand the Raiders their first loss.

Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

Rematch of Super Bowl XXIV. Same outcome.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Seahawks

I want to pick the Chargers. They have too much talent to be 0-3. With the way they’ve played through three weeks, I can’t pick the Chargers.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Panthers

Dan Campbell will find a way to lose this one. 

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

20 years ago, Steve Gleason blocked a Falcons punt to wake up a Saints team and a city. The Saints can’t lose this game. 

Miami Dolphins All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings host the Miami Dolphins tomorrow. Being in different conferences, the Vikings haven’t played the Dolphins too often over the years. They did have a significant meeting on January 13, 1974. Super Bowl VIII. That game didn’t go well for the Vikings. On the eve of the rematch of that Super Bowl, here are some of the best players in Dolphins franchise history. Several of the players on this team played in that Super Bowl. 

Offense

Quarterback 

Dan Marino

Running Back

Ricky Williams

Fullback

Larry Csonka

Wide Receivers

Paul Warfield

Mark Clayton

Tight End

Bruce Hardy

Tackles

Richmond Webb

Norm Evans

Guards

Bob Kuechenberg

Larry Little

Center

Dwight Stephenson

Defense

Defensive Ends

Jason Taylor 

Cameron Wake

Defensive Tackles

Manny Fernandez

Bob Baumhower

Linebackers

Zach Thomas

Nick Buoniconti 

John Offerdahl

Cornerbacks

Sam Madison

Patrick Surtain

Safeties

Dick Anderson

Jake Scott

Special Teams

Kicker

Garo Yepremian

Punter

Reggie Roby

Kick Returner

Jakeem Grant

Punt Returner

O.J. McDuffie

Flea Flicker Favorite Football Books

I bring this list of favorite football books back when I’m thinking about football books. I even brought it back earlier this year. I bring it back now because I have a new addition to it. There are several great football players that simply don’t have enough written about them. Former New York Giants safety Emlen Tunnell is one of those players. Sure, he’s mentioned in just about every book written on the 1950’s Giants and there are many of those. The only legitimate book focused on Tunnell is his autobiography, Footsteps of a Giant. Whenever I’ve searched for it, I’ve had a difficult time finding the book. Properly motivated a few weeks ago, I finally located one. It’s terrific and finds a place on this list. Here are 28 of my favorite football books. I really should trim that number down but I really don’t want to trim any of the books. 

Flea Flicker Favorite Football Books

28. Namath: a Biography, Mark Kriegel, 2005
If you're at all curious about the Joe Namath legend this is the book to read.

27. Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger, 1990
A football classic. As much sociological study as football book.

26. Going Long: The Wild Ten Year Saga of the American Football League in the Words of Those Who Lived It, Jeff Miller, 2004
Perhaps the best book on the wildly entertaining American Football League.

25. The Mannings, Lars Anderson, 2016
Any book about the Mannings that's still talking about Archie's football career 150 pages in is an entertaining read. Not to take anything away from the Manning kids but their careers are so fresh in our football minds. Archie was a very good quarterback on a very bad team. He was also one of my favorite non-Minnesota Vikings players of his era. He's a better dad. This book is as much about raising a family and relationships as it is about football. A great book.

24. About Three Bricks Shy of a Load, Roy Blount Jr., 1974
This book is an excellent season-long, inside look at the Pittsburgh Steelers just before the team took over the NFL.

23. Chuck Noll: His Life's Work, Michael MacCambridge, 2016
Blount's book took a close look at one season before the Steelers' dynasty. MacCambridge's book looks at the life of the man behind that dynasty. It's hard to imagine the Steelers being a laughing-stock but they were for nearly all of their first 40 years in the league. When Dan Rooney hired Chuck Noll in 1969 the Steelers started to change. Quickly. MacCambrige tackles one of the game's great coaches and perhaps least known.

22. Giants and Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y. A. Tittle, Dianne Tittle De Laet, 1998
A look at a football star from the rare perspective of his daughter. This book is simply wonderful.

21. Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe, Kate Buford, 2010
This is the best book on one of America's greatest athletes.

20. Kassulke, Karl Kassulke, 1981
The former Vikings safety delivers the wildly entertaining characters on the Minnesota Vikings of the 1960s. It's a must for Vikings fans.

19. Paper Lion, George Plimpton, 1966
George Plimpton's writing. George Plimpton's football talents. The 1963 Detroit Lions. Fun times.

18. PB: The Paul Brown Story, Paul Brown with Jack Clary, 1978
From stories of his days attending San Francisco 49ers games at Kezar Stadium in the 1940s, my father introduced me to the coaching legend of Paul Brown. As a result those Cleveland Browns teams and their coach will always have a fond place for me.

17. A Civil War, John Feinstein, 1997
A terrific, intimate look into the incredible Army-Navy rivalry.

16. Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions, Chris Willis, 2012

This book would probably make the list simply because of the subject. Dutch Clark is one of the best, and one of my favorite, players of the NFL’s early years. Like Emlen Tunnell, Dutch Clark’s life and great career is woefully covered. Chris Willis uncovered him. 

15. Finding the Winning Edge, Bill Walsh, 1997
This is the coach's manual on how to run a football team.

14. Instant Replay, Jerry Kramer and Dick Schaap, 1968
Jerry Kramer's diary of the Packers 1967 season. There are a few season-long, peak-behind-the-curtains books on this list. This book is one of the first to be written and still one of the best.

13. Halas by Halas, The Autobiography of George Halas, George Halas with Gwen Morgan and Arthur Veysey, 1979
George Halas' story is the story of the NFL.

12. The Pros: A Documentary of Professional Football in America, Robert Riger with commentary from Tex Maule, 1960
This is a unique coffee table-type book. It presents the NFL to the reader through the fantastic artwork and photography of Robert Riger and commentary of Tex Maule.

11. Total Football/Total Football II, Bob Carroll, David Neft, John Thorn, and Michael Greshman, 1997/1998
You want a pro football encyclopedia? Here's your pro football encyclopedia.

10. Run to Daylight, Vince Lombardi with W.C. Heinz, 1963
Perhaps the first "inside look" football books. Vince Lombardi takes the reader through a week of preparation for a game during the 1962 season.

9. The Game That Was, Myron Cope, 1970
Some of my favorite football books are the oral histories of the early days of the game. Myron Cope reached many of the game's best in this one. Dutch Clark, Johnny Blood, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, Bulldog Turner.

8. The Pro Football Chronicle: The Complete (Well Almost Record of the Best Players, the Greatest Photos, the Hardest Hits, the Biggest Scandals), Dan Daly and Bob O'Donnell, 1990
As the title suggests the book has a lot of everything.

7. Education of a Coach, David Halberstam, 2005
What could be better than a book written by a writer like David Halberstam about a coach like Bill Belichick?

6. What a Game They Played, Richard Whittingham, 1984
This is probably the best oral history book on football. Whittingham brings the reader the voices and experiences of many of the greats that made football great. Mel Hein, Don Hutson, Sid Luckman, Sammy Baugh, and so many others.

5. Footsteps of a Giant, Emlen Tunnell w/William Gleason, 1966

Perhaps it’s a recency thing that places this book in the Top 5. I didn’t know Emlen Tunnell but I really felt like I got to know him through this book. I hope that Gleason accurately captured Tunnell’s voice. I’ve always liked the player. Now, I really like the person. This is a great, fun book about a great, fun football player. 

4. Red Grange: The Life And Legacy of the NFL’s First Superstar, Chris Willis, 2019

This might be the most thoroughly researched and comprehensive book ever written on an individual football player. And it’s a fun read. 

3. A Thinking Man's Guide To Pro Football/The New Thinking Man's Guide To Pro Football, Paul Zimmerman, 1970 and 1984
This book is so great that it had to be done twice. I only wish that there were Newer... and Newest... editions as well. Zimmerman was probably the most knowledgeable football writer in the business. He could talk and write about the game like a coach.

2. When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, David Maraniss, 1999
The best football biography that I've read. There were a handful of years in which I had to re-read this book prior to the start of the NFL season. Just to get ready.

1. America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation, Michael MacCambridge, 2005
Michael MacCambridge tells the story of the NFL since World War II through a focus on the Browns, Chiefs, Colts, Cowboys, Raiders, and Rams. Well researched and very well written. If you want one book on the history of the NFL to read, this is it.

Vikings Roster Moves

Mostly due to an injury, a trade, and a the Minnesota Vikings made several roster moves over the past couple of days. 

Signed to 53-man Roster:

Kyle Van Noy, OLB

Max Brosmer, QB

Reverted to Active Roster from Suspended List:

Jeshaun Jones, WR

Placed on Injured/Reserve

Josh Oliver, TE

Terminated contract:

Johnny Hekker, P

Released from Practice Squad:

Jerome Ford, RB

Jaret Patterson, RB

Jonathan Harris, DL

Signed to the Practice Squad:

Kenny Dyson, OLB

Audric Estime, RB

Devin Neal, RB

Johnny Hekker, P

Keshawn Banks, OLB

Josh Priebe, G

It’s been a busy week. The work started with the trade of quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Plenty has already been said about the trade. Plenty will be said about the trade for the entirety of McCarthy’s career. The quarterback vacancy prompted Max Brosmer’s elevation from the practice squad. Speaking of practice squad elevations, the Vikings did so for each of the first three games with outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. League rules allow only three such elevations so he was signed to the active roster on Tuesday. This was a move considered inevitable when he was initially signed to the practice squad on September 2. Josh Oliver’s unfortunate bicep injury forced a move to injured reserve. Hopefully, he’ll be back later in the season. Oliver is so critical to the Vikings offense, in general, and run game, in particular. 

As for the practice squad moves, the focus was on supplementing the running backs. Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson did so for a week. Audric Estime and Devin Neal will do so moving forward. The addition of Neal is especially intriguing. He was terrific in college at Kansas. That got him selected in the sixth-round of a 2025 NFL draft that was loaded with talented running backs. The Vikings run game will require a delicate balance until Jordan Mason returns from thumb surgery. Aaron Jones Sr. is being forced to carry too much of the load right now. He’s still an effective runner at 31 but his carries can’t get out of hand over multiple weeks. Punter Johnny Hekker was signed to the active roster last week to replace injured Brett Thorson in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hekker and Thorson competed for the punter job through training camp. The rookie won the job and was punting well until he tweaked a hamstring in Week 2 on the soggy home field of the Chicago Bears. It was incredibly convenient that Hekker was available as he already had familiarity with the Vikings kicking battery of kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola. It seems holding for kicks has become as important as the actual punting for the modern punter. Maintaining Hekker’s presence on the roster was important as Thorson works to return to the lineup. Keshawn Banks and Josh Priebe will supplement the depth at their respective positions. 

Then we get to the almost comical case of Kenny Dyson. The Vikings initially brought him in at the latter stages of training camp. He impressed defensive coaches immediately and was a likely candidate for the initial practice squad. Whether a clerical oversight or just a procedural mistake by a new front office finding their way, the Vikings released Dyson with an injury settlement. He was then signed to the practice squad. Can’t do that. The practice squad contract was disallowed because of a league rule that says players waived with an injury settlement can’t be re-signed by that team until the length of that settlement, plus three weeks. It was a mistake/oversight that didn’t reflect well on the Vikings. The three weeks have now passed and Dyson was still available. Now, he’s on the Vikings practice squad. And it’s legal. So far. 

It’s been a busy week of roster-tweaking for the Minnesota Vikings. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 3 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday 23-16. Offensively, it wasn’t pretty. The defense and special teams carried the Vikings to the win and a 3-0 start to the season. Here are some of the players that made the big win possible. 

Offensive Player of the Game

Jordan Addison, WR

Jordan Addison has had a slow start to the season. With Justin Jefferson departing early in the first quarter with an ankle injury, the Vikings really needed Addison to get untracked. He did.

5 catches 

90 yards

1 TD

On the Vikings only offensive touchdown drive of the game, Addison had 71 of the 73 yards. The final 41 was the touchdown. If Kyler Murray had been a bit more accurate with his throws, Addison would’ve had an even bigger game. Including another long touchdown. 

Defensive Player of the Game

Eric Wilson, LB

Once again, this Vikings defense had several contenders for Defensive Player of the Game honors. Eric Wilson was a game-long menace against the Buccaneers. 10 tackle and 1.5 sacks. He made plays behind the line of scrimmage, at the line of scrimmage, and in coverage. 

Wilson may have gotten away with couple facemask penalties. In his defense, they looked more like touches of the facemask rather than grabs. 

Special Teams Player of the Game

Myles Price, Returner

Finally. Myles Price took a kick a back for a touchdown. I believed that he’d get one last season as a rookie. He didn’t. His 68-yard kick return against the Packers in Week 1 kick-started that great comeback. His 86-yard punt return score against the Buccaneers got the Vikings off to a hot start. Those seven points ended up being the difference in the game. 

Special Teams Honorable Mention:

Will Reichard, K

With the way that the Vikings offense has struggled through three games, Will Reichard might be the team’s MVP after the entire defense. He scored all of the points in last week’s 9-3 win over the Chicago Bears. He scored 11 of the 23 points on Sunday against the Buccaneers. He’s the best kicker in the league and one of the most impactful football players on the Vikings. 

Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy

“I believe organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations.”

      - Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell

Sometimes, no one failed. Sometimes, it simply doesn’t work out.

The Minnesota Vikings selected quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yesterday, the Vikings traded McCarthy to the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

As one of the few fans that still believes in J.J. McCarthy’s potential, I’m disappointed in the trade. If I’m forced to be realistic with the situation, I get it. Really, I have no choice but to get it. If one were so evil as to script a horror-filled, initial two-plus years for a young quarterback, it might be McCarthy’s start with the Vikings. He lost his rookie season to a torn meniscus suffered in his first preseason game. Anointed the starter in his second season, three separate injuries forced him to bounce between the field and sideline throughout the season. McCarthy was never on the field consistently enough to establish any consistency. Still, he managed to start 10 games and lead his team to a 6-4 record in those games. It might not always have been pretty but the first starts of a young quarterback often aren’t always pretty. Ultimately, only wins matter and McCarthy won more than he lost. For what it’s worth, the Vikings selected Christian Ponder with the 12th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was given three seasons to prove his worth as the starter. He never showed anything close to the potential in those three seasons that McCarthy showed in those 10 games. As the head coach, it’s probably safe to assume that Kevin O’Connell has a higher standard for quarterbacks than Leslie Frazier. Going into McCathy’s third season, the Vikings signed Kyler Murray to compete for the starting job. Neither quarterback really separated himself from the other. It felt that experience was the tiebreaker and Murray had that. The “lost” quarterback competition was the beginning of McCarthy’s end in Minnesota. I hoped that it wasn’t but I felt that it was. When the Vikings released Alan Page early in the 1978 season, I was forced to understand that my feelings on a player simple don’t matter. It’d be a beautiful thing if all of your favorite players could stay with your favorite team forever. It might not be a successful thing but it’d be a beautiful thing. 

After news broke of the J.J. McCarthy trade, Kevin O’Connell and general manager Nolan Teasley addressed the media. Both addressed sentiments that they believe McCarthy’s NFL story has yet to be written, that they believe he has the potential to succeed. If they truly believe any of that, why trade him? The truth is that the Vikings decision-makers no longer believed that J.J. McCarthy has the potential to be the team’s long-term answer at the all-important quarterback position. Agree or disagree, they should know better than any of us. I’ve been waiting since Fran Tarkenton retired in 1978 for the Vikings to draft their next long-term franchise quarterback. For nearly 50 years, I’ve wanted the next drafted quarterback to be that quarterback. Tommy Kramer, Steve Dils, Wade Wilson, Rich Gannon (technically, the Vikings traded for Gannon but they still got him as a rookie), Brad Johnson, Daunte Culpepper, Christian Ponder, Teddy Bridgewater, J.J. McCarthy. I wanted every damn one of them to be Tarkenton’s heir. Most showed potential. A few showed great potential. Without fail, the future of each was wrecked by injuries. The Vikings quarterback story since Fran Tarkenton has been so frustrating. J.J. McCarthy is simply the latest quarterback in that story. 

The media and many fans want to blame someone for the failure of the Vikings - McCarthy union. Why does there always have to be someone to blame? The situation with team and player on draft day is very different than the situation today. Teams would have a much better success rate if the draft was done in hindsight but you can’t redo something that’s already been done. If McCarthy hadn’t missed his rookie season and missed time during his second season, I believe that he’d be the starter this season. But it really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I believe. Those injuries happened. That can’t be undone. McCarthy’s time as a Vikings quarterback was disrupted too often for him to ever get comfortable in the job. Is that anyone’s fault? The only way to prevent injuries in football is to never play. No one failed at their job. The draft is always a risk, a gamble. The Vikings took a shot with J.J. McCarthy. It simply didn’t work. 

I’m disappointed in the trade. Mostly because another first-round quarterback didn’t become the Vikings next franchise quarterback. I’m also disappointed in the fifth-round return. Then again, I’m often surprised by the compensation in most NFL trades. 

Moving forward, best of luck J.J. McCarthy. Unless the Minnesota Vikings are involved. Thank you for the fun of the ten games that you played. 

Vikings - Buccaneers

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday. The Vikings are 3-0.

It’s a win. It wasn’t a pretty win. Actually, it was a nice game from the defense and special teams but the Vikings offense has to get better. A lot better.

I’d like to say that the Vikings offense looked rough because receiver Justin Jefferson left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He spent most of the rest of the first half on the sideline with his helmet on his head and looking itchy to get back in the game. He never got back in the game and the offense definitely missed him. 

Kyler Murray looked out of sync all game. Very little looked right with him. At least he finished the game. Murray’s best throw was his first throw. It was probably the only throw that looked in rhythm. Of course, the throw went to Justin Jefferson. A nice 22-yarder to start one of the two best drives of the game. The last offensive play of the drive was a 10-yard catch-and-run to Jefferson. Unfortunately, that 10-yard play was on 3rd-and-19. The Vikings had to settle for a 54-yard Will Reichard field goal. 

The other good drive of the game came after the Buccaneers had tied the score at 10-10. Unlike the first good drive, this good drive ended with a touchdown. Four plays, 73 yards. 71 of those yards came on two plays. The first was a 30-yard sideline throw to Jordan Addison. The great toe-tapping catch of Addison saved Kyler Murray from another overthrow. Three players later, Murray chucked a 41-yard pass to Addison. He caught the ball at about the three, hit the ground untouched, and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. 17-10 Vikings with about four minutes remaining in the first half. That was the score at the half. 

Thanks to strong defenses on both sides, neither of the offenses moved the ball much. The Buccaneers punted nine times. The Vikings punted 8 times. 17 punts. The teams combined for 20 first downs. Combined, the offenses were 4-32 on third down. It was that sort of game. 

The difference in the game may have been the 86-yard punt return touchdown by Myles Price. It’s been ten years since the Vikings returned a punt for a touchdown. Price showed big return potential as a rookie last season. His 68-yard kick return in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers was one of the key plays in that wild comeback win. His 86-yard punt return score yesterday against the Buccaneers provided the winning margin. On a day the Vikings offense struggled, the special teams score was critical. 

After a rough first half in the Week 1 game against the Packers, the Vikings defense has been outstanding. With the offensive struggles, the Vikings needed that sort of performance. 

Kyler Murray and the Vikings offense have to get things figured out. Hopefully, Justin Jefferson misses zero games. Things can get difficult when a team loses their best and most explosive player. Still, the Vikings have too many playmakers, not named Jefferson, on offense to make moving the chains so difficult. Maybe being at home next week will ignite the offense. Next up is a home game against the Miami Dolphins. A rematch of Super Bowl VIII. 

Flea Flicker Week 3 Predictions

It’s on to Week 3. Here are guesses at the games.

Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings bump their record to 3-0.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

The Chargers need to get their shit together to make this the intriguing game it should be.

Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Panthers

After stunning the Buccaneers last week, the real Browns return this week. 

New York Jets @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Lions

The Lions are another team that needs to get their shit together. 

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Texans

These are the two best 0-2 teams in the league. One of them has to win this game.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Chiefs

Chiefs roll.

Tennessee Titans @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants

Even without Jaxson Dart, the Giants should handle the Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Bengals

Bengals roll.

Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks should easily handle the Commanders without Jayden Daniels.

New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jaguars

This could be a fun game.

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers 

Pick: 49ers

49ers roll.

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Ravens

It’s only Week 3 and both teams really need this game. 

Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

The Raiders are surprising 2-0. Their undefeated ways end this week. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Rams

Rams roll over Sean Payton.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Eagles

The Eagles should handle Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum at quarterback. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Tampa Bay for tomorrow’s Week 3 game against the Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in the league since 1976. Initially, they were one of the worst teams in league history. Then they surprised everyone with a singular playoff run in 1979. Then they went into a long stretch of mediocrity. Things changed for the Buccaneers in the 2000s. They won Super Bowl XXXVII with an excellent defense. They won Super Bowl LV with Tom Brady. One of the peculiar aspects of the Buccaneers history is that the league jammed them into the AFC West in their first season. Perhaps as peculiar, the league flipped them to the NFC Central division after a single season in the AFC. Geography be damned, from 1977-2001, the team from Florida competed in the same division with the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions. On the eve of this big game between former division foes, here’s an All - Time Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Tom Brady

Running Back

Warrick Dunn

Fullback

Mike Alstott 

Wide Receivers

Mike Evans

Chris Godwin

Tight End

Jimmie Giles

Tackles

Paul Gruber

Tristan Wirfs

Guards

Ali Marpet

Davin Joseph

Center

Tony Mayberry

Defense

Defensive Ends

Lee Roy Selmon

Simeon Rice

Defensive Tackles

Warren Sapp

Gerald McCoy

Linebackers

Derrick Brooks

Hardy Nickerson

Lavonte David

Cornerbacks

Ronde Barder

Donnie Abraham

Safeties

John Lynch

Cedric Brown

Special Teams

Kicker

Martin Gramatica

Punter

Josh Bidwell

Kick Returner

Micheal Spurlock

Punt Returner

Karl Williams

Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Former New York Giants safety Emlen Tunnell was one of the best football players of the 1950s. He was one of the best football players in NFL history. In his terrific autobiography, Footsteps of a Giant, Tunnell selected his All - Time Team. All of the players on the team played during his time in the league. So, this is clearly a team of the best players Tunnell played with and against. I always enjoy seeing who the best players think are the best players and Tunnell put together an interesting team. Here is that team.

Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

John Unitas, Colts

Norman Van Brocklin, Rams, Eagles

Charlie Conerly, Giants

Otto Graham, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

I’m not ducking when I pick four quarterbacks. Unitas was the best all-around man, but Van Brocklin, Graham, and Conerly were superior to John in some phases of play. Van Brocklin was the greatest long passer of my time. People forget that Graham was a remarkable runner. Conerly, a superlative strategist and leader, didn’t have the receivers or, perhaps, the passing offense that complimented the other three.

Halfback

Hugh McElhenny, 49ers

Ollie Matson, Cardinals

Fullback

Jim Brown, Browns

Steve Van Buren, Eagles

Marion Motley, Browns

Tight End

Billy Wilson, 49ers

Tunnell’s comments:

Billy Wilson unquestionably was the greatest end I played against. He wore me out. After tailing Billy for an afternoon I was bushed, physically and mentally. 

I’ve long thought that Billy Wilson was one of the most underrated receivers, and football players, in league history. It’s a damn shame that his Hall of Fame debate has fallen on the deaf ears of the voters for decades. 

Spread End

Tom Fears, Rams

Tunnell’s use of “tight end” to describe Billy Wilson and “spread end” to describe Tom Fears nicely describes offensive football schematics of the 1950s. 

Tackle

Roosevelt Brown, Giants

Lou Rymkus, Browns

Guard

Frank Kilroy, Eagles

Abe Gibron, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

Abe Gibron brought maneuvers to guard play that had never been executed before. As Abe puts it, he “went first,” which means that he led plays through areas that guards weren’t expected to penetrate. Critics say Abe went first because he beat the snap. I watched him on hundreds of plays, and I’m still not sure how he did it. 

I like Tunnell’s comments on Gibron because he’s another player that seems to be lost in history. 

Center

Frank Gatski

I’m a little surprised that Jim Parker didn’t make Tunnell’s team. 

Defense

End

Andy Robustelli, Rams, Giants

Len Ford, Browns

Gino Marchetti, Colts

Tackle

Arnie Weinmeister, Giants

Ernie Stautner, Steelers

Linebacker

Chuck Bednarik, Eagles

Bill George, Bears

Joe Schmidt, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

My selection of three middle linebackers may seem unfair to the tremendous outside backers I’ve seen, but I’m convinced that Schmidt, George, and Bednarik could have been just as great on the outside as they were in the middle.

Safety

Jack Butler, Steelers

Jack Christiansen, Lions

No Emlen Tunnell?!? 

Halfback

Otto Schnellbacher, Giants

Russ Craft, Eagles

Dick Lane, Rams, Cardinals, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

Otto Schnellbacher, my partner in the original umbrella, wasn’t called “The Claw” just because some writer was desperate for a colorful nickname to put in his story. Otto had marvelous hands, and it was no trick for him to grab a long pass one-handed. He is one of the few on this honor team of mine that doesn’t have a long service record. “Ots” led the NFL in interceptions in 1951 and then retired, just like that. Craft isn’t remembered or appreciated by many fans because Russ played at a time when the football writers weren’t immortalizing defensive players the way they do today. Russ had a couple of years in when I came up to the Giants, and he was the first defensive back to impress me with his knowledge of receivers and his ability to cut down the angles. 

I always enjoy seeing and hearing corners referred to as halfbacks. 

Emlen Tunnell is one of my favorite players from one of my favorite football eras. There really isn’t enough written about him. I’m glad that I finally got my hands on his autobiography. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Defensive Lines

The Minnesota Vikings have pieced together an intriguing defensive line. It’s an interesting group for their NFL origins as well as their diverse talents and potential.

Levi Drake Rodriguez - 2024 seventh-round pick

Jalen Redmond - signed out of the XFL in 2024

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - 2025 fifth-round pick

Elijah Williams - 2025 undrafted

Caleb Banks - 2026 first-round pick

Domonique Orange - 2026 third-round pick

Until using high-end picks on Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings had gone the bargain route to build their defensive line. Jalen Redmond emerged as a difference-maker last season. Another leap this season and he’s in the conversation with the league’s best. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins might be on a similar trajectory. Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange have the physical talent to be early draft picks. Both immediately add large and physical presences to the Vikings defensive line. Both have the size, talent, and potential to dominate. Elijah Williams made the roster and flashed at times as a rookie last year. His biggest obstacle to getting on the field is his five linemates. 

I really like this Vikings defensive line group. I liked it last season when the undrafted and late-round youngsters were outplaying high-priced additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. I liked the group even more when high-end talents Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange were added. This really is a talented group with a high ceiling. For his first three years in Minnesota, defensive coordinator Brian Flores really had to scheme much of the pressure. Now he has the defensive line talent that can only enhance those schemes. Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams, Caleb Banks, and Domonique Orange are fun and talented football players. I can’t wait to see how they grow, work, and evolve together. I believe that they are already a very good group. They might become a great group. How great? If the Vikings have had a history of riches at any position it's been the defensive line. Strong defensive fronts are a tradition in Minnesota and that tradition started with one of the most disruptive defensive lines in the history of the NFL. The Four Norsemen. The Purple People Eaters. Three Dots and a Dash. No matter how they were known they were great.

DE Jim Marshall

DT Alan Page
DT Gary Larsen
DE Carl Eller

Alan Page and Carl Eller are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many feel that Jim Marshall belongs there as well. Gary Larsen was the least acclaimed of the four but he was solid. He even played in a couple of Pro Bowls. All four made the Pro Bowl in 1969. The Vikings had the best defense and one of the best teams in the league for several years beginning in 1969 and the four up front were the reason. Doug Sutherland eventually replaced Gary Larsen in 1974 but this line played together for a remarkable ten years. That sort of consistency doesn't happen much these days.

The Vikings drafted some solid defensive linemen in the mid- to late-1970s that the team hoped would step up when the greats that preceded them stepped down. Doug Martin was often outstanding. Mark Mullaney was solid. The Vikings just couldn't put together a complete group. That was the case until the late 1980s when another great defensive front popped up in Minnesota.

DE Chris Doleman
DT Keith Millard
DT Henry Thomas
DE Al Noga

This line had a few seasons of outstanding play. Chris Doleman is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Keith Millard played a couple of seasons like few defensive players ever have. He was Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. If injuries hadn't derailed his career, he'd be in the Hall of Fame with Doleman. Henry Thomas did all of the dirty work. He ate up blocks. He took up space. He stopped the run. Al Noga was a terrific pass rushing threat opposite Doleman. This front probably would have received much more attention if the team had more success. The Vikings were really good at times but never great. They also played in the same conference as dominant, even dynastic, teams like the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins. The Vikings did manage to knock off one of those 49ers teams while on their way to the NFC Championship game in 1987. Millard, Doleman, Thomas, and Noga swarmed Joe Montana and the 49ers offense into utter frustration in that playoff game. 

One of the greatest players in the history of the Minnesota Vikings is defensive tackle John Randle. Through most of his brilliant career he was the lone threat on the defensive line. His first Pro Bowl and All Pro selection came in 1993. That Vikings defensive line was probably the best of his 11 years in Minnesota.

DE Chris Doleman
DT John Randle
DT Henry Thomas
DE Roy Barker

Doleman was traded to the Atlanta Falcons after that season and Randle never again had a line partner close to his caliber in the destruction of opposing offenses.

It wasn't until the latter half of the 2000s that the Vikings tradition of strong front fours returned. That front was completed when the Vikings acquired defensive end Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade. The Vikings had their missing pass rusher and another dominant defensive line.

DE Jared Allen
DT Kevin Williams
DT Pat Williams
DE Ray Edwards

This defensive line was great. No one ran on the Williams Wall. Jared Allen and Ray Edwards could just tee off on opposing offensive tackles. Kevin Williams could also apply some pass rushing pressure up the middle. Allen and both Williams' made a couple of Pro Bowls. Allen is the fifth Vikings defensive lineman to have a bust in Canton. Kevin Williams should soon be the sixth. Brian Robison was the link between this great defensive line to the next one. 

DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
DT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison

That terrific line evolved into this one with the emergence of the freakishly talented Danielle Hunter. If Sharrif Floyd hadn’t had his career ended by a surgical mishap, this defensive line would’ve been ridiculous. 

DE Everson Griffen
DT Tom Johnson
DT Linval Joseph
DE Danielle Hunter

Danielle Hunter is still building on his likely Hall of Fame career. Unfortunately he’s doing so with the Houston Texans. It was a sad day when he departed Minnesota. Despite his ridiculous talent, he wasn’t an ideal fit in a Brian Flores defense. That doesn’t take away from his presence on one of the great defensive lines in the Vikings great history of defensive lines. 

The first, great Minnesota Vikings defensive line set an incredibly high bar for the franchise. That bar is one of the best in NFL history. The current line is loaded with talent and very young. There’s great potential in the group. Who knows? Maybe they'll take a run at the Purple People Eaters. That's a bold suggestion. A Super Bowl title(s) would certainly help their cause.

 

Minnesota Vikings Roster Tweaks

Injuries have forced the Minnesota Vikings to make some tweaks to the roster. Fortunately the tweaks have been more precautionary than roster overhauls. None of yesterday’s moves involved the 53-man roster. After last year’s relentless run of injuries, it’s still a little worrisome. 

Vikings rookie punter Brett Thorson exited Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears with a sore hamstring. The extent of the soreness has yet to be revealed but it was enough of a concern to bring back Johnny Hekker. Yesterday, he was signed to the practice squad. As soon as I heard that the Vikings were concerned enough with Thorson’s injury to look at available punters, I hoped that Hekker was one of them. He’d competed with Thorson for the punting job through training camp. Hekker is familiar with the kicking battery of kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola. If Thorson can’t punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Hekker should be able to easily step in as the holder. The continuity of the kicking battery is critical. After 14 years of experience, Hekker can easily handle the actual punting part of the punter job.

With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones Sr. had a heavy workload against the Bears. 23 carries on a soggy, spongy turf and his 31 years clearly has the Vikings decision-maker concerned about the sustainability of leaning so heavily on Jones while Mason is out. That’s why the Vikings signed Jarret Patterson to the practice squad yesterday. The signing results in the following running back room.

Aaron Jones Sr.

Demond Claiborne

DeeJay Dallas

Jerome Ford - practice squad

Jarret Patterson - practice squad

Jones must stay healthy. While I really like what I’ve seen from DeeJay Dallas, I hope that speedy rookie Demond Claiborne gets much more than a few carries in the coming weeks. 

Signing players always means losing players. To make room on the practice squad for Johnny Hekker and Jarret Patterson, the Vikings released receiver Trayvon Rudolph and cornerback Bryce Phillips. 

The Vikings also announced that defensive tackle Taki Taimani has been waived from injured reserve. 

An NFL roster is always a fluid thing. Hopefully, any further roster tweaks made by the Vikings isn’t due to injury. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 2 Superlatives

On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings had a gritty 9-3 win over the Chicago Bears. A rainy day and soggy turf wasn’t made for offensive fireworks. Bears head coach Ben Johnson boasted last week that his offense would threaten league scoring records. Introductions to Brian Flores and the Vikings defense were apparently needed. That explosive Bears offense could only manage three points. That wasn’t enough. Here are some of the players that made the big 9-3 win possible. 

Offensive Player of the Game

Aaron Jones Sr., RB

The Vikings offense scored nine points, had 11 first downs, and managed 246 yards. In today’s NFL, those are meager numbers. In this game, it was enough. Aaron Jones provided a significant slice of those 246 yards.

23 carries

105 yards

Many of those yards were critical yards.

Honorable Mention: The Offensive Line

Defensive Players of the Game

All of them

All of them is every player that took a snap and every coach. This was dominant team defense. While it was the entire defense that shut down the Bears “mighty” offense, there were some singular players that made singular plays.

Dallas Turner

5 tackles

2 sacks

Through two games (two wins), Dallas Turner has arguably been the Vikings best player. In Jordan Love and Caleb Williams, Turner has harassed two of the most difficult to sack quarterbacks in the league on nearly every dropback. His sack of Tyson Bagent ended the game yesterday and sealed the big win.

Isaiah Rodgers recovered a D’Andre Swift fumble on the Vikings one-yard line and blocked a field goal that would’ve tied the score at 6-6. Those two plays likely took 10 Bears points off the board. In a game the Vikings won 9-3, that’s a big deal.

Jalen Redmond forced the fumble that Isaiah Rodgers recovered and helped keep the Bears potent run game in check. He also deflected a pass.

Special Teams Player of the Game

Will Reichard, K

With three field goals providing the winning points, Will Reichard is an easy choice as the Special Teams Player of the Game. His third field goal doinked off an upright. Even his “misses” are good. 

Vikings - Bears

Defense!

The Minnesota Vikings kicked three field goals during a rainy, soggy football game in Chicago. The Bears kicked only one. A 9-3 NFL game feels like a foreign thing in the current era. This game was more like one played in the 1970s. 

9-3. After running up 59 points against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, Bears head coach Ben Johnson boasted about his offense challenging league scoring records. He’s probably whistling a sad and different tune after running into the Vikings defense. For four quarters, the supposed offensive wizard had no answers for the defense Brian Flores put on the field. That defense was outstanding. 

Caleb Williams is always a challenge. He’s probably the league’s most difficult to catch and tackle quarterback. He also has the arm to make throws to anywhere on the field from anywhere on the field. It’s a damn shame that he left the game with an apparent hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter. That injury happened inside the 10-yard line. Tyson Bagent is a skilled backup but that’s a difficult entry with the game on the line. The Bears had to settle for a field goal attempt. Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers blocked the game-tying, chip-shot attempt to keep the score at 6-3. The Vikings offense only had a couple sustained drives on the day. One of them followed the big special teams play by Rodgers. The drive ended with a field goal with just over a minute to play and gave the Vikings a 9-3 lead. The Bears needed a touchdown with just over a minute to play. That final field goal was ultimately the difference in the game. Last week, the Vikings rode a late fourth down stop of the Green Bay Packers for a Week 1 win. Yesterday, the Vikings rode this blocked field goal to a Week 2 win. 

Unlike most football fans, I kinda like gritty, defensive football games. Not every game has to be a shootout with bewildered and sloppy defenses. The respective offenses may have left plenty to be desired yesterday but it was a rainy day and a soggy surface. The Soldier Field turf is often a problem on the best days. Consistent rain just mucks up a football game. 

The Vikings are now 2-0 and on top of the NFC North. The two wins are also against division foes.

While the Vikings defense was terrific throughout the game. They still needed a couple singular plays to preserve the win. Isaiah Rodgers was involved in both. Each came with the Bears threatening the Vikings goal line. On the opening possession of the second half, Caleb Williams guided the Bears offense to the Vikings one-yard line. On first-and-goal from the one, Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond stripped D’Andre Swift of the football and Rodgers recovered the fumble. If he’d recovered the ball cleanly, he’d probably have gone 99 yards for a score. No one was catching him. Instead, he had to fall on the ball to secure it. A quarter later, he had that blocked field goal. In those two plays, Rodgers kept the Bears from scoring as much as 10 points. He nearly had a third gigantic play to seal the win. Instead, his interception at the goal line was ruled out of bounds. For what it’s worth, I thought that he had both feet in the field of play before his heel hit that white stripe. The Vikings had to withstand two more Bears offensive plays from their own 12-yard line. It was a nervy two plays. Rodgers might not have sealed the win with a third big play but edge rusher Dallas Turner did. 

Through two weeks and two wins, Dallas Turner might’ve been the Vikings best football player in both games. Last week, he harassed Packers quarterback Jordan Love all day. Yesterday, he did the same thing to Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent. Again, Williams is difficult to catch and even more difficult to get to the ground. Turner did it once. He also sacked Bagent to end the game. 

The entire Vikings defense was great. Dallas Turner, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jalen Redmond highlighted the team play with the biggest plays. 

The Vikings didn’t generate a lot of offense. 246 total yards and 11 first downs won’t win a lot of games. Against the Bears, it was enough. Carson Wentz managed the game. Aaron Jones Sr. ran for 105 yards on 23 carries. His rushing and Justin Jefferson’s 55 receiving yards were nearly two-thirds of the Vikings modest offense. It was that sort of day. 

12 total points. With the meager scoring, it was interesting that each team scored a field goal on their first possession. So, half of the 12 points were scored in the game’s first ten minutes. Ben Johnson’s high-scoring offense couldn’t score again. The Vikings chipped in two more field goals. 

There were so many positives for the Vikings defense. One that must be mentioned is the solid play of first-round rookie defensive tackle Caleb Williams. With several more snaps than the first week, he made some plays. He got washed into the traffic of teammates on one play but the rest of his snaps looked positive. He was involved in six total tackles and had a tackle for loss. That was nice performance and a step forward for the gigantic rookie. 

Defense!

I can’t wait to see this Vikings defense on the field again. Up next is a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. 

Flea Flicker Week 2 Predictions

Week 1 was fun. It’s on to Week 2. 

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Vikings

With this game, there’s only one acceptable outcome. 

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Panthers

The Panthers defense should be feeling salty after giving up 59 points to the Bears. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Titans

I doubt I get this one right but it’s fun to pick against the Eagles.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

It’s also fun to pick against Aaron Rodgers.

Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets

Pick: Packers

The Packers rebound from their humiliating beatdown by the Vikings.

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Buccaneers

Buccaneers cruise. 

New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

The Saints took the Lions to overtime in Week 1. The Lions might not be as frisky as some expected. The Ravens should handle the Saints.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans

Pick: Texans

This should be a fun game.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Jaguars

The Jaguars roll over Sean Payton.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

The Chargers rebound from their stunning loss to the Cardinals.

Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Cowboys

Both had sad openers. Just going with the home team.

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks should handle the Cardinals even if I was quarterbacking the team.

Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

49ers roll.

Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

Chiefs roll.

Chicago Bears All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings are on the road for their Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears. The Bears are one of only two teams to compete in all 107 seasons of the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals are the other team. The Bears have a long, often successful history. Unfortunately for younger fans, their “glory years” were before the Super Bowl became a year-ending spectacle. The Bears have won nine league titles. One of those was Super Bowl XX. It’s been a while but some of the greatest teams in league history have come out of Chicago. On the eve of the big game, here are some of the best players in the long history of the Chicago Bears. 

Chicago Bears All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Sid Luckman

Running Back

Walter Payton

Fullback

Bronko Nagurski 

Wide Receivers

Harlon Hill

Brandon Marshall

Tight End

Mike Ditka

Tackles

Joe Stydahar

George Musso

Guards

Dan Fortmann

Stan Jones

Center

Bulldog Turner

Defense

Defensive Ends

Richard Dent

Khalil Mack

Defensive Tackles

Link Lyman

Dan Hampton

Linebackers

Bulldog Turner

Dick Butkus

Brian Urlacher

The middle linebacker tradition in Chicago is ridiculous. No other team can boast the riches at any position that the Bears can boast at the middle linebacker position. Bulldog Turner, Bill George, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlacher. It’s a tradition so great that I’ve selected a middle linebacker trio. I’ve done that at the expense of outstanding outside linebackers like George Connor, Otis Wilson, Lance Briggs, and Joe Fortunato. 

Cornerbacks

Charles Tillman

J.C. Caroline

Safeties

Red Grange

Roosevelt Taylor

Special Teams

Kicker

Robbie Gould

Punter

Bobby Joe Green

Kick Returner

Gale Sayers

Punt Returner

Devin Hester

That’s a terrifying return duo. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Voter Changes

The Pro Football Hall of Fame voting process has always been a controversial thing. Debating the greatness of a football career will always be a controversial thing. When several voters decided during the 2026 vote that Bill Belichick wasn’t deserving of first-ballot induction, the voting process was deemed flawed and some of the voters were revealed as petty, vindictive, and unqualified. I’ve long thought that football historians were far more qualified than most, if not all, of the media honks. All of the historians I know have an unbiased appreciation of every player and moment of football history. Sure, they have their favorite teams and players but they also have an honest view of their place in history. Among the media honks with a vote, too many only know of the players they covered and the era they lived. As a result, those voters would only consider the players they actually watched. So much for honoring and preserving the history of the game. It’s only the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s mission statement. After the mess of the Belichick vote, the process and the voters had to change and changes have now been made. Perhaps it needs to play out but the Hall’s shot-callers might’ve made things even worse. 

The Changes:

- reducing the number of voters

- eliminating the senior category 

- enshrining between three and seven candidates each year from a 15-player pool

  (13 players, one coach, and one contributor)

- scrapping the system that tasked the market-based selector to present the case for candidates

In regards to reducing the number of voters, 50 voters always felt like a reasonable number. In recent years, several voters have expressed little interest in voting on players before their time. Those individuals shouldn’t be part of the process. With that in mind, the 50 voters could use some trimming. After seeing the new roster of voters, some of the wrong voters were trimmed. 

The 28 Voters

• Jared Allen, Hall of Famer
• Howard Balzer, CardsWire, SiriusXM NFL Radio
• Jarrett Bell, USA Today
• David Birkett, Detroit Free Press
• Vic Carucci, WGRZ-TV
• Mike Chappell, CBS4/Fox59TV
• Peter Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette
• Jeff Duncan, Times-Picayune
• Dan Fouts, Broadcaster, Hall of Famer
• Scott Garceau, 105.7 The Fan/WMAR-TV
• Bob Glauber, Author
• Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star
• Nicki Jhabvala, Pro Football Writers of America
• Lindsay Jones, The Ringer
• Ira Kaufman, JoeBucsFan.com 
• Ross Ketover, NFL Films
• Sam Kouvaris, SamSportsLine.com
• Jeff Legwold, ESPN
• Rob Maaddi, Associated Press
• Gary Myers, Author
• Sal Paolantonio, Senior National Correspondent, ESPN
• Dan Pompei, The Athletic
• Mike Sando, The Athletic
• Will Shields, Hall of Famer
• Jim Trotter, Retired, The Athletic & NFL Network
• Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
• Eric Williams, Sports Illustrated
• Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk

Rick Gosselin and Ron Borges were two of the greatest advocates for deserving senior candidates. They were cut. Perhaps they were cut because they were so supportive of the players lost to ignorance. Seeing as the changes include eliminating the senior category, it’s pretty clear the current Pro Football Hall of Fame shot-callers do not care about football’s past and forgotten deserving senior players. Also, I like Dan Pompei but a flight to Canton in for the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions had me questioning his knowledge of football history. I was sitting behind Pompei on the flight and overheard him chatting with another passenger. They were discussing senior inductee Curley Culp. Despite being on the senior committee that selected Culp, Pompei couldn’t recall if he’d won a Super Bowl. Anyway, as much as I love Jared Allen, I’d rather see Gosselin and Borges voting on the Hall of Famers. Or John McClain. Or Clark Judge. I also believe that any voter that kept Bill Belichick from being the first-ballot inductee his career demanded should’ve been eliminated. That includes Vahe Gregorian. It’s horseshit that he made the cut. 

We’ll see how the 2027 vote plays out but I have very little faith in these changes. Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter and the Hall’s board have made major changes to the process in their five years of running the show. Those changes are creating a pattern of addressing a mistake with a bigger mistake. For the sake of the Hall and football history, I hope I’m wrong. 

Throwback Thursday: Red Grange’s Football Tour

Through its first five years, the National Football League was a shaky and questionable business. The most popular sports in the 1920s were baseball, boxing, college football, and horse racing. Some folks probably sprinkled in tennis and golf before they even considered paying attention to professional football. Joe Carr, George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Chris O’Brien, Carl Storck, and the rest of the league’s leaders were scraping, scratching, doing everything they could to gain notice and traction with the media and public. Enter Harold “Red” Grange. 

The 1920s introduced the nation to sports celebrities. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Bobby Jones, Helen Wills, Lou Gehrig, Man o’ War, and Bill Tilden thrilled a public that finally had some spare time. In his three years at Illinois, Red Grange joined those sports celebrities. People flocked to the stadium to see him live and to theaters to see his highlights. The NFL needed him. They needed him bad. 1925 was 11 years before the first NFL Draft. Every potential professional football player was essentially a free agent. In an attempt to gain a bit of respect and credibility with the public, the NFL had established a policy of no tampering with college football players that still had remaining eligibility. Grange’s last football game as an innocent University of Illinois student-athlete was at Ohio State on November 21, 1925. A day later, he was sitting on the sidelines at Cubs Park for the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game. He was watching his new teammates shut out the Packers 21-0. Four days later, he played for the Bears against the Chicago Cardinals on Thanksgiving. 120 hours after his final college football game, Red Grange played in his first NFL game. Perhaps he wasn’t so innocent. 

If the general public wasn’t so thrilled to see Red Grange play professional football, they might’ve been suspicious as to how Grange signed with the Bears in only a matter of hours. The reality was that it had been in the works for weeks, maybe months. All of that and all that was to come was crafted by Grange’s agent. A theater owner named C.C. Pyle had an expansive plan for Grange, the Bears, and himself. C.C. Pyle was a piece of work but this story isn’t really about him. This story is about the ridiculous football marathon that kicked off soon after Grange joined the Bears. 

It’s really no stretch to say that the addition of Red Grange to the roster of the Chicago Bears and the NFL put player, team, and league on a whole other trajectory. All three needed each other. All three looked to profit from the new union. What happened after Grange joined the Bears could never happen today. It shouldn’t have happened in 1925. Grange and his new teammates played a lot of football. 

Most of the following is taken from Chris Willis’ excellent and incredibly thorough Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL’s First Superstar.

Red Grange’s Football Tour:

After playing in his final eight-game season for the University of Illinois, Grange played in the final two games of the Chicago Bears 1925 schedule:

11/26/25: Chicago Cardinals

11/29/25: Columbus Tigers

That was just the beginning. With Grange on the team, George Halas and the Bears went on a tour. It was a barnstorming tour with two parts. Here’s the first part.

Wednesday, December 2, at St. Louis All-Stars

Saturday, December 5, at Frankford Yellow Jackets (NFL game)

Sunday, December 6, at New York Giants (NFL game)

Tuesday, December 8, at Washington All-Stars

Wednesday, December 9, Providence Steam Roller (NFL game)

Thursday, December 10, Pittsburgh All-Stars

Saturday, December 12, Detroit Panthers (NFL game)

Sunday, December 13, New York Giants (NFL game)

Over 11 days, Grange and the Bears played eight games. At one point in the tour, they played six games in eight days. It was an insane schedule. The Bears had 20 players on their roster for these games. In those days, players played offense, defense, and special teams. Much to the disappointment of the fans in the stands, Grange did not play every minute of every game. The highlight of the tour was the December 6 game in New York. Attendance for the game was estimated between 65,000 and 70,000. Those were unimagined numbers for the NFL in the 1920s. The Bears won that game, 19-7. The crowd was thrilled when Grange returned an interception for a score to clinch the win. A frequently told story from this tour is from the stop in Washington D.C. Grange and Halas met President Calvin Coolidge at the White House. Illinois senator William McKinley made the introductions. “Mr. President, this is George Halas and Red Grange with the Chicago Bears.” President Coolidge responded by saying, “Young men, I’m very happy to meet you. I always did like animal acts.” 

During the Pittsburgh game, Grange injured his left arm while throwing a block on an interception return. It would impact his play for the final two games of this part of the tour. 

After a week of rest, Grange and the Bears continued their tour. The second part of the tour hit the south and west. 

Friday, December 25, 1925, at Coral Gables (FL) All-Stars

Friday, January 1, 1926, at Tampa (FL) Cardinals

Saturday, January 2, 1926, at Jacksonville (FL) All-Stars

Sunday, January 10, 1926, at New Orleans All-Southerns

Saturday, January 16, 1026, at Los Angeles Tigers

Sunday, January 17, 1926, at San Diego California All-Stars

Sunday, January 24, 1926, at San Francisco Tigers

Saturday, January 30, 1926, at Portland All-Stars

Sunday, January 31, 1926, at Seattle Washington All-Stars

Again, four days after completing an eight-game college football season, Red Grange played in his first NFL game for the Chicago Bears. Over two months, from 11/26/25 to 1/31/26, Grange and the Bears played 19 football games. Several of those games were on zero days rest. This was the 60-minute era. Players didn’t have the luxury of sitting and resting while the defense, offense, or special teams took the field. It was a 60-minute grind. It was a grind that Grange and the Bears did over and over again for two months. The only real break over those two months was the 12 days between the two parts of the barnstorming tour. At least it was a little time for Grange to rest his injured arm. The first part of the tour was mostly against NFL teams. The second part was mostly against “all-star” lineups. Those “all-star” teams might’ve been a little short on “stars” but they weren’t always a bunch of slappies. Stanford great and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers played in the Florida games. University of Washington All-American George “Wildcat” Wilson played in the west coast games. 

Red Grange collected $125,000 for his first season as a professional football player. That was an unfathomable amount for the time. C.C. Pyle did alright for himself as well. In some respects, this initial business relationship had George Halas working for Grange and Pyle. Halas didn’t see as much take-home cash as his partners but he saw enough to keep his young team afloat during very difficult times. More important than profits for Halas and the NFL was the attention ignited by Grange and the insane barnstorming tour. Not every game was a sellout but every game brought much-needed attention to professional football. Some historians and pundits have said that Grange saved the NFL. I wouldn’t go that far but it was the first big step in the right direction for professional football.