Greatest Minnesota Viking of All Time

1.

Alan Page

By: beej     10 votes

During Page's 15-year NFL-tenure, the Vikings won an impressive four conference titles. Page played in 218 consecutive games without an absence, during which he recovered 22 fumbles, made 148.5 sacks (Vikings-108.5, Bears-40), and scored three touchdowns (two on fumble recoveries and one on an interception return). He also had three safeties, the second most in NFL history. He set a career-high in sacks with 18 in 1976 and is unofficially credited with 5 other seasons with 10 sacks or more. While in the NFL, Page earned All-Pro honors six times and made second-team all-league three additional times. He was voted to nine consecutive Pro Bowls. Eleven times he was voted All-Conference, in 1968 and 1969 as All-Western Conference and 1970 through 77 and 1980 as an All-National Football Conference. In 1971, Page was named both the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (the first player to be named such) and the AP's NFL Most Valuable Player. Page was the first defensive player to be named MVP since the award's inception. (Wikipedia)

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2.

Fran Tarkenton

By: beej     11 votes

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Tarkenton in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft. Tarkenton was given the nicknames "Frantic Fran" and "Scramblin' Fran" because he frequently ran around in the backfield to avoid being sacked by the opposition. He led the Vikings to three Super Bowls in the 1970s, but lost all of them. Tarkenton won the NFL's MVP award after the 1975 season, capturing All-Pro honors in the process. Tarkenton was also second Team All-Pro in 1973 and earned All-NFC selection in 1972 and 1976. He was named second Team All-NFC in 1970 and 1974. Tarkenton was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls. (Wikipedia)

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3.

Cris Carter

By: beej     10 votes

The Minnesota Vikings claimed the troubled wide receiver off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles on September 4, 1990 for the modest price of $100.
Carter finished the decade of the '90s with 835 receptions, second only to Jerry Rice's 860, and was named to the NFL's All Decade team. On November 30, 2000, Carter became only the second player in NFL history to reach the 1,000 reception plateau when he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass against Detroit. Cris Carter left the Vikings as their all-time leader in, among other things, receptions - 1,004, receiving yards - 12,383, and touchdowns - 110. (Wikipedia)

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4.

Jim Marshall

By: beej     10 votes

Marshall played from 1961 to 1979 with the Minnesota Vikings. He played in 282 consecutive games, a record since surpassed by punter Jeff Feagles. He still holds the record for documented consecutive starts with 270 although there is a question as to whether his consecutive starts streak is 270 or 282 due to a lack of documentation of his streak as a member of the Cleveland Browns. He played in Pro Bowls after the 1968 and 1969 NFL seasons. He recovered 30 fumbles, an NFL record. He was a member of the Vikings' famous "Purple People Eaters", and was the final player from Minnesota's initial expansion team of 1961 to retire. The Vikings credit Marshall with 127 career quarterback sacks, second most in Viking History behind Carl Eller. (Wikipedia)

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5.

John Randle

By: beej     12 votes

Randle went undrafted, but was picked up by the Vikings during training camp, playing his first season in 1990. He went to his first Pro Bowl in 1993 after recording 11.5 sacks, and was quickly becoming one of the dominant defensive tackles of his era. Like fellow Minnesota Viking Chris Hovan, Randle was known for eccentric face painting as well as trash talking on the field. Randle left the NFL tied with Richard Dent for 5th in number of career sacks, and his 137.5 career sacks is the most by a defensive tackle in NFL history. Over his career he was named to seven Pro Bowl squads. He was named All Tackle Machine of 1999 by Tackle The Magazine. Randle was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor in 2008. He is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting in 2009. (Wikipedia)

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