Dream Team Project
Minnesota Vikings Dream Team
The all-time Vikings lineup, position by position. Every player here suited up for the Vikings. Disagree with a pick? Leave a comment or nominate someone below.
How we pick
One real lineup per franchise, judged on what each player did in this uniform: impact, playoff moments and longevity with the team first, league honors second. Players are measured against their own era, and every entry is checked against the team site, the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Reference.
The roster
Our picks, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Fran Tarkenton
Scrambling original Viking who led three NFC championship teams.
NFL MVP 1975; 5× Pro Bowl with MIN; 1975 1st-team All-Pro; 3 NFC titles
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
RB
Adrian Peterson
Most dominant runner of his era, with a 2,097-yard MVP season.
NFL MVP 2012; 7× Pro Bowl; 4× 1st-team All-Pro; 3× NFL rushing leader
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Cris Carter
Sure-handed Hall of Famer who made eight straight Pro Bowls.
8× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; left as Vikings leader in catches, yards and TDs
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Randy Moss
Game-breaking deep threat from his record-setting rookie year.
1998 Offensive Rookie of the Year; 5× Pro Bowl with MIN; 3× 1st-team All-Pro with MIN
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Justin Jefferson
Six straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his career.
2022 Offensive Player of the Year; 4× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro (2022, 2024)
Sources: Wikipedia
TE
Steve Jordan
Six straight Pro Bowls in a 13-year career spent entirely in purple.
6× Pro Bowl (1986-1991); Vikings Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
LT
Grady Alderman
Last of the original Vikings, a 14-year fixture at left tackle.
1969 NFL champ; 6× Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
LG
Randall McDaniel
Hall of Fame guard who made the Pro Bowl 11 straight years here.
11× Pro Bowl with MIN; 7× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1990s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
C
Mick Tingelhoff
Started 240 straight games at center over 17 seasons.
1969 NFL champ; 6× Pro Bowl; 5× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
RG
Ed White
Powerful guard who played in all four Vikings Super Bowls.
1969 NFL champ; 3× Pro Bowl with MIN (1975-1977)
Sources: Wikipedia (player page and Super Bowl IX/XI lineups)
RT
Ron Yary
No. 1 overall pick who became a Hall of Fame right tackle.
1969 NFL champ; 7× Pro Bowl; 6× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1970s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
Defense
11 playersDT
Alan Page
First defensive player ever named NFL MVP.
1969 NFL champ; NFL MVP 1971; 9× Pro Bowl; 5× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
DT
John Randle
Undrafted free agent who became the top interior rusher of the 90s.
6× Pro Bowl with MIN; 6× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL sacks leader 1997
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
DE
Carl Eller
Hall of Fame end of the Purple People Eaters front four.
1969 NFL champ; 6× Pro Bowl; 5× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1970s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
EDGE
Chris Doleman
Hall of Fame pass rusher who led the NFL in sacks in 1989.
6× Pro Bowl with MIN; 3× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL sacks leader 1989
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
LB
Matt Blair
Rangy outside linebacker and prolific kick blocker.
6× Pro Bowl (1977-1982); 1980 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Scott Studwell
Fourteen-year middle linebacker who retired as the team's top tackler.
2× Pro Bowl; retired as Vikings career tackles leader (1,981)
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Jeff Siemon
Starting middle linebacker on three Super Bowl teams.
4× Pro Bowl (1973, 1975-1977)
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Bobby Bryant
Ballhawk whose 51 interceptions rank second in team history.
1969 NFL champ; 2× Pro Bowl; 51 interceptions with MIN
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Carl Lee
Seventh-round pick who became an All-Pro cover corner.
3× Pro Bowl (1988-1990); 1988 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Paul Krause
The NFL's career interception king, a center fielder for 12 seasons.
1969 NFL champ; 6× Pro Bowl with MIN; 1975 1st-team All-Pro; NFL career interceptions record (81)
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
S
Harrison Smith
Do-everything safety now in his 15th season with the team.
6× Pro Bowl; 2017 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
Fred Cox
Fifteen-year kicker who remains the Vikings' all-time leading scorer.
1969 NFL champ; 1970 Pro Bowl; Vikings all-time leading scorer (1,365 points)
Sources: Wikipedia
P
Chris Kluwe
Eight-year punter who set a string of team records.
Set eight Vikings punting records
Sources: Wikipedia
RET
Cordarrelle Patterson
Twice an All-Pro kick returner in four Minnesota seasons.
2× 1st-team All-Pro with MIN (2013, 2016); 2× Pro Bowl with MIN
Sources: Wikipedia
COACH
Bud Grant
Stoic architect of 11 division titles and four Super Bowl trips.
1969 NFL champion head coach; 4 Super Bowl appearances; 11 division titles; 1969 Coach of the Year
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
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