Minnesota Vikings Ring Of Honor
The Minnesota Vikings created a Ring of Honor in 1998 to honor franchise legends. Over the past 24 years, 21 players, three coaches, one general manager, and one trainer have been inducted into the prestigious group. At halftime of tomorrow’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, former defensive end Jared Allen will become the 22nd player, seventh defensive lineman, and 27th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor.
The Vikings beat Canton to post-career honors for a player that terrorized quarterbacks during a 13-year career. The best and most important of those 13 years were the six that he played in Minnesota. Allen made the Pro Bowl four times during those six years. It should’ve been all six. He was named All-Pro three times. He was runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011. He should’ve won the award as his 22 sacks topped all of the wonderful things that Terrell Suggs did that year. Allen was fifth in the voting for the award in 2009. His 22 sacks in 2011 were an agonizing half-sack short of the NFL record.
His yearly sack totals for the Vikings
2008: 14.5
2009: 14.5
2010: 11
2011: 22
2012: 12
2013: 11.5
His four career safeties is an NFL record. He’s tied with three players. The Vikings got the better of the 2008 trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that brought Allen to Minnesota. By far.
Allen was a fantastic football player. It was only part of what he was for the Vikings and his community. Tomorrow, he’ll take his much deserved place as one of the best players in Vikings franchise history. His next post-career stop will be Canton.
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback (1998)
Alan Page, Defensive Tackle (1998)
Jim Finks, General Manager (1998)
Bud Grant, Head Coach (1998)
Paul Krause, Safety (1998)
Fred Zamberletti, Athletic Trainer (1998)
Jim Marshall, Defensive End (1999)
Ron Yary, Offensive Tackle (2001)
Korey Stringer, Offensive Tackle (2001)
Mick Tingelhoff, Center (2001)
Carl Eller, Defensive End (2002)
Cris Carter, Wide Receiver (2003)
Bill Brown, Fullback (2004)
Jerry Burns, Offensive Coordinator/Head Coach (2005)
Randall McDaniel, Guard (2006)
Chuck Foreman, Running Back (2007)
John Randle, Defensive Tackle (2008)
Scott Studwell, Linebacker (2009)
Chris Doleman, Defensive End (2011)
Matt Blair, Linebacker (2012)
Joey Browner, Safety (2013)
Randy Moss, Wide Receiver (2017)
Ahmad Rashad, Wide Receiver (2017)
Dennis Green, Head Coach (2018)
Steve Jordan, Tight End (2019)
Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle (2021)
Jared Allen, Defensive End (2022)
Who’s next?
As soon as the congratulations and acknowledgements fade for an honor like this, the question is always asked. Who’s next? It’s inevitable. Jared Allen’s name hasn’t even been officially dropped inside of US Bank Stadium and I’m asking it here. I’ve thought about this question a time or two, maybe more, since Allen was surprised with the honor during training camp. So, who should be the 28th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor?
Whether it’s the Pro Football Hall of Fame or the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, my first thought for “next” is the player that’s been waiting the longest. In this case, I can’t help but think about Grady Alderman. He’s an original Viking and one of the most underrated players in franchise history. From 1961 to 1973, he was the team’s left tackle. He was very good. At times, he was great. He went to six Pro Bowls and received a few All-Pro nods. From 1969-73, Alderman and Ron Yary formed one of the league’s best tackle duos.
Now, I’m not saying that Grady Alderman should be next. I’m just saying that he deserves serious consideration. The list for “next” is long. Here’s a stab at some of the contenders.
Grady Alderman
Bobby Bryant
Jeff Siemon
Sammy White
Tommy Kramer
Anthony Carter
Carl Lee
Keith Millard
Gary Zimmerman
Henry Thomas
Ed McDaniel
Jake Reed
Todd Steussie
Robert Smith
Robert Griffith
Matt Birk
Daunte Culpepper
Antoine Winfield
Pat Williams
Chad Greenway
Steve Hutchinson
Adrian Peterson
My short(er) list probably looks something like this:
Grady Alderman
Tommy Kramer
Keith Millard
Gary Zimmerman
Antoine Winfield
Steve Hutchinson
If I were to be so bold as to guess the 28th member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, that guess would be Steve Hutchinson. I’d like to see Tommy Kramer, Keith Millard, and Antoine Winfield take their much-deserved place in the Ring soon but I think that Hutchinson will be the next pick of those that actually make the pick. The Vikings great guard was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. A Ring of Honor induction has often preceded or followed a Canton induction. For that reason, and the fact that he deserves it, Hutchinson is an easy pick for “next.”
What’s up with the Gary Zimmerman-Minnesota Vikings relationship? He was an easy Hall of Famer. He was brilliant for the Vikings. He always seemed to be in complete control of his area of the field. Despite playing his best years and the majority of his career in Minnesota, it’s always felt like he’s more aligned with the Denver Broncos. A bitter contract dispute led to the trade that sent Zimmerman to Denver. I’m guessing that some bitterness remains. It’s the only thing that explains his Ring of Honor absence. He’s one of the best players in Vikings franchise history.
For now, and until the 28th member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor is announced, congratulations Jared Allen on a much-deserved honor.
The Vikings beat Canton to post-career honors for a player that terrorized quarterbacks during a 13-year career. The best and most important of those 13 years were the six that he played in Minnesota. Allen made the Pro Bowl four times during those six years. It should’ve been all six. He was named All-Pro three times. He was runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011. He should’ve won the award as his 22 sacks topped all of the wonderful things that Terrell Suggs did that year. Allen was fifth in the voting for the award in 2009. His 22 sacks in 2011 were an agonizing half-sack short of the NFL record.
His yearly sack totals for the Vikings
2008: 14.5
2009: 14.5
2010: 11
2011: 22
2012: 12
2013: 11.5
His four career safeties is an NFL record. He’s tied with three players. The Vikings got the better of the 2008 trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that brought Allen to Minnesota. By far.
Allen was a fantastic football player. It was only part of what he was for the Vikings and his community. Tomorrow, he’ll take his much deserved place as one of the best players in Vikings franchise history. His next post-career stop will be Canton.
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback (1998)
Alan Page, Defensive Tackle (1998)
Jim Finks, General Manager (1998)
Bud Grant, Head Coach (1998)
Paul Krause, Safety (1998)
Fred Zamberletti, Athletic Trainer (1998)
Jim Marshall, Defensive End (1999)
Ron Yary, Offensive Tackle (2001)
Korey Stringer, Offensive Tackle (2001)
Mick Tingelhoff, Center (2001)
Carl Eller, Defensive End (2002)
Cris Carter, Wide Receiver (2003)
Bill Brown, Fullback (2004)
Jerry Burns, Offensive Coordinator/Head Coach (2005)
Randall McDaniel, Guard (2006)
Chuck Foreman, Running Back (2007)
John Randle, Defensive Tackle (2008)
Scott Studwell, Linebacker (2009)
Chris Doleman, Defensive End (2011)
Matt Blair, Linebacker (2012)
Joey Browner, Safety (2013)
Randy Moss, Wide Receiver (2017)
Ahmad Rashad, Wide Receiver (2017)
Dennis Green, Head Coach (2018)
Steve Jordan, Tight End (2019)
Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle (2021)
Jared Allen, Defensive End (2022)
Who’s next?
As soon as the congratulations and acknowledgements fade for an honor like this, the question is always asked. Who’s next? It’s inevitable. Jared Allen’s name hasn’t even been officially dropped inside of US Bank Stadium and I’m asking it here. I’ve thought about this question a time or two, maybe more, since Allen was surprised with the honor during training camp. So, who should be the 28th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor?
Whether it’s the Pro Football Hall of Fame or the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, my first thought for “next” is the player that’s been waiting the longest. In this case, I can’t help but think about Grady Alderman. He’s an original Viking and one of the most underrated players in franchise history. From 1961 to 1973, he was the team’s left tackle. He was very good. At times, he was great. He went to six Pro Bowls and received a few All-Pro nods. From 1969-73, Alderman and Ron Yary formed one of the league’s best tackle duos.
Now, I’m not saying that Grady Alderman should be next. I’m just saying that he deserves serious consideration. The list for “next” is long. Here’s a stab at some of the contenders.
Grady Alderman
Bobby Bryant
Jeff Siemon
Sammy White
Tommy Kramer
Anthony Carter
Carl Lee
Keith Millard
Gary Zimmerman
Henry Thomas
Ed McDaniel
Jake Reed
Todd Steussie
Robert Smith
Robert Griffith
Matt Birk
Daunte Culpepper
Antoine Winfield
Pat Williams
Chad Greenway
Steve Hutchinson
Adrian Peterson
My short(er) list probably looks something like this:
Grady Alderman
Tommy Kramer
Keith Millard
Gary Zimmerman
Antoine Winfield
Steve Hutchinson
If I were to be so bold as to guess the 28th member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, that guess would be Steve Hutchinson. I’d like to see Tommy Kramer, Keith Millard, and Antoine Winfield take their much-deserved place in the Ring soon but I think that Hutchinson will be the next pick of those that actually make the pick. The Vikings great guard was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. A Ring of Honor induction has often preceded or followed a Canton induction. For that reason, and the fact that he deserves it, Hutchinson is an easy pick for “next.”
What’s up with the Gary Zimmerman-Minnesota Vikings relationship? He was an easy Hall of Famer. He was brilliant for the Vikings. He always seemed to be in complete control of his area of the field. Despite playing his best years and the majority of his career in Minnesota, it’s always felt like he’s more aligned with the Denver Broncos. A bitter contract dispute led to the trade that sent Zimmerman to Denver. I’m guessing that some bitterness remains. It’s the only thing that explains his Ring of Honor absence. He’s one of the best players in Vikings franchise history.
For now, and until the 28th member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor is announced, congratulations Jared Allen on a much-deserved honor.
