Skol, Vikings fans! Gather ’round the longship, because we’re about to embark on a journey through the frozen fjords of Minnesota football history. The NFL’s wise men have spoken, chiseling four legendary faces onto the Vikings‘ Mount Rushmore. But who made the cut in this purple and gold pantheon?
But hold onto your horned helmets, because this isn’t just another “best of” list. We’re diving deeper than a Minneapolis snowdrift to uncover the true impact of these grid-iron giants. How did they transform the Vikings from mere mortals into a football force to be reckoned with? Grab your Gjallarhorn and prepare to sound the battle cry, because this tale of Viking valor is about to set sail!
The top 4 legends of the North
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The NFL Throwback channel unveiled Vikings Valhalla, and it’s a sight to behold. Leading the charge is Alan Page, the Purple People Eater who devoured quarterbacks for breakfast. His nine Pro Bowls and 1971 NFL MVP award speak volumes. Page’s combination of speed and power changed the game. His teammate, Page’s 148.5 career sacks and his transition to becoming a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice showcase his dominance on and off the field.
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Lions at Vikings Memories – 1971. An example of why you never wanted to piss-off Alan Page. This Viking win was an example of why he was named MVP of the entire league in 1971 (before they had Off and Def MVPs). 1st ever Defensive Player to win MVP of the NFL. pic.twitter.com/KyPjnYKqSd
— VikeFans (@VikeFans) December 19, 2023
Scrambling wizard Fran Tarkenton takes his place next to Page. “I scramble because I’m good at it, because I can twist and dodge and sprint and make people miss,” Tarkenton once explained. His improvisational style revolutionized the quarterback position, paving the way for future mobile QBs. Tarkenton’s 47,003 passing yards and 334 touchdowns for the Vikings remain franchise records.
Cris Carter, with hands that seemed magnetically attracted to the pigskin, stands tall on this mountain of legends. “All I do is catch touchdowns,” Carter famously quipped, and with 110 TD receptions for the Vikings, it’s hard to argue. His eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons speak to his consistency. Carter’s ability to mentor younger players, including Randy Moss, extended his impact beyond his playing days.
Rounding out this fearsome foursome is Adrian Peterson, the modern-day berserker who ran with a combination of power and speed rarely seen in NFL history. “I don’t really think about my legacy. I just go out and play,” Peterson once said, but his legacy is undeniable. His 2012 MVP season, where he rushed for 2,097 yards just months after major knee surgery, is the stuff of legend. Peterson’s 11,747 rushing yards for Minnesota set a franchise record that may stand for generations.
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This Mount Rushmore isn’t just about individual accolades; it’s about players who defined eras. Page anchored the feared Purple People Eaters’ defense of the ’70s, a unit so dominant they made opposing offenses quake in their cleats. Tarkenton’s innovative play in the ’60s and ’70s led the Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances, establishing them as an NFC powerhouse. Carter’s sure hands provided stability through the ’90s, turning third downs into his personal playground. Peterson’s bruising running style carried the team through the 2000s and early 2010s, making “All Day” a fitting nickname for his relentless approach.
As Commissioner Roger Goodell cuts a hefty $404 million check for each NFL team, including the Vikings, it’s impossible not to see the connection between these gridiron gods and the league’s financial prosperity. Their on-field exploits filled stadiums sold jerseys, and kept fans glued to their screens, contributing to the NFL’s meteoric rise. The Vikings’ value has skyrocketed from the original $600,000 expansion fee in 1961 to Forbes’ current valuation of $3.35 billion. Yet, as we bask in the glow of this Mount Rushmore, we can’t help but think of the other warriors who’ve donned the purple and gold. The halls of Valhalla echo with names like John Randle, Randy Moss, and Paul Krause – legends who narrowly missed the cut but whose impact on the franchise is undeniable.
The unsung heroes of the North
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The halls of Valhalla echo with the names of other Viking legends who narrowly missed the cut. John Randle, the undrafted defensive tackle turned Hall of Famer, terrorized quarterbacks with his fierce play and even fiercer war paint. With 137.5 career sacks, he certainly left his mark. Randall McDaniel, the Iron Man guard, started an astounding 202 consecutive games, earning a record 12 straight Pro Bowl selections. His teammate, center Mick Tingelhoff, anchored the offensive line for 17 seasons without missing a single game – a testament to Viking toughness.
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The receiving corps boasts its own Norse god in Randy Moss, whose “You got Mossed!” moments are etched in NFL lore. Moss’s 23 touchdown receptions in 2007 still stand as a single-season NFL record. As he famously quipped, “When you’ve got the attitude, when you’ve got the swagger, you’ve got to back it up.” On the defensive side, Carl Eller‘s fearsome presence as part of the Purple People Eaters can’t be overlooked. His 133.5 sacks (unofficial, as sacks weren’t an official stat until 1982) speak to his dominance.
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Safety Paul Krause, the NFL’s all-time interception leader with 81, patrolled the Vikings’ secondary like Heimdall guarding the Bifrost Bridge. “I had a knack for being around the ball,” Krause modestly stated, but his record suggests he had a magnetic pull to pigskins. Ron Yary, the first overall pick in 1968, lived up to his billing, making seven Pro Bowls and paving the way for the Vikings’ punishing ground game.
The list of honorable mentions is as long as a Minnesota winter, including defensive tackle Kevin Williams, linebacker/defensive end Chris Doleman, and guard Steve Hutchinson. Each of these warriors contributed to the Vikings’ legacy in their own unique way. As we look at this impressive roster of near-misses, it’s clear that the Vikings’ history is richer than the gold on their helmets. These players may not be on our Mount Rushmore, but their exploits are forever etched in the annals of Viking lore, reminding us that in the frozen north, legends are forged in purple and gold.
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