10 greatest Minnesota Vikings of all time

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 2: Defensive tackle Alan Page #88 and defensive end Carl Eller #81 of the Minnesota Vikings watch from the sideline during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium on December 2, 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Vikings 27-0. (Photo by Clifton Boutelle/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA- JANUARY 9: Chuck Foreman #44 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

The team from the Twin Cities has produced its share of outstanding players.

Born out of expansion in 1961, the Minnesota Vikings have had quite history considering the team has never had a tremendous amount of postseason success. The franchise from the Twin Cities, which made four Super Bowl appearances in an eight-year span from 1969-76, has yet to hoist a Lombardi Trophy.

The Vikings were 1969 NFL champions, but by then the leagues recognized title holder would be the Super Bowl winner and the club was pummeled by the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-7, in Super Bowl IV. There would be ensuing losses to the Dolphins, Steelers and Raiders, respectively. And the Purple Gang, despite its share of outstanding players, hasn’t been back to the “Big Game” since.

But this is also an organization that has put a great product on the field on a pretty steady basis. So which 10 players are the choices here for the greatest all-time when it comes to the Purple Gang?

10. Chuck Foreman, RB

These days, the running back position in the National Football League primarily features performers who can not only carry the ball and but make an impact in the passing game. That wasn’t always the case but Vikings’ standout Chuck Foreman was one of football’s more versatile performers in the 1970s and made quite the impact in a relatively brief time.

The 23rd overall pick in 1973 from the University of Miami earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors when he gained 1,163 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns in 12 games that year. Bud Grant’s club would go onto Super Bowl VIII.

All told, he spent seven years with the club, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his first five seasons and All-Pro accolades in 1975. That season, he gained 1,761 yards from scrimmage and scored 22 TDs. His total with Minnesota added up to 8,944 scrimmage yards and 75 scores (52 rushing and 23 receiving). And that spin move frustrated more than one defender.

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