The Minnesota Vikings are an American professional football team that is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are in the North division of the National Football Conference and they played their first game in the National Football League in 1961. Since then, they hold one of the highest winning percentages in the league. They never have quite a success compared to other football teams; they have played in four Super Bowls but eventually lost. Despite all this, the Minnesota Vikings have 12 players inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let us get to know more of the top players who played for the Vikings who have worn the same jersey number which is #28. Now, I am wondering who will ever get the chance to retire this jersey number.
10. AHMAD RASHAD
Born as Robert Earl Moore, he made his debut in professional football in year 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals. In the same year he was drafted in the NFL, he converted to Islam, and changed his name to Ahmad Rashad. He played for two different teams before he finally played for the Vikings. He played Pro-Bowl four times, and was Pro-Bowl MVP in the year 1978. He played All-Pro once and is part of the 50 Greatest Vikings. He is inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame.
9. TED ROSNAGLE
Ted Rosnagle never shined in the limelight of professional football. He had his professional football career debut in 1985, playing for the Minnesota Vikings. He stayed with them for two years, also equivalent to two seasons. He never achieved any awards as well.
8. IZEL JENKINS
Born as Izel N. Jenkins, Jr., he made his debut in professional football on 1988, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He stayed with the team for four years, before transferring to the Vikings then ended his career with the New York Giants. In his career, he gave up too much passes, that’s why he was nicknamed “The Toast”.
7. JAMES STEWART
Don’t confuse him as the James Stewart who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions. James Stewart just like the Stewart in Detroit Lions, also made his professional football career debut on 1995. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings during the 1995 NFL Draft.
6. ANTHONY PHILLIPS
He was first drafted by the Atlanta Falcons on year 1994. He played for them for three consecutive years, and then he went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings. He had a short career in professional football due to his injury. He has a metal rod in his right leg, and injury that forced him to end his football career early.
5. ROBERT TATE
Robert Tate made his debut in professional football when he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. He played for them for four years before going on to play for the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. He played football in college in the University of Cincinnati with popular NFL players.
4. LARRY NED
Born as Larry Lee Ned, Jr., he made his debut in professional football on 2003. Although he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders first in year 2002, he never got to play for them. He went to the Minnesota Vikings in the same year and played for them on 2003 until 2004. When he was still in college he played for the San Diego State Aztecs.
3. LARONI GALLISHAW
He signed with the Minnesota Vikings on the year of 2005. He went to Murray State for college. He didn’t played much professional football, he only had a one season experience with a career statistics of two tackles, zero interceptions, and zero fumbles.
2. RASHAD BAKER
Born as Rashad Steward Baker, he made his debut in professional football on 2004, playing for the Buffalo Bills. He stayed with the Bills for a year when the waived him, the Vikings signed him up and he stayed with them for a year as well. With the Vikings, he played one game as a reserve and was later released on November 4 2006.
1.ADRIAN PETERSON
Born as Adrian Lewis Peterson, he made his debut in the NFL on 2007, with the Minnesota Vikings, and still plays for the team presently. He has four nicknames; two of them are the “Purple Jesus”, and “All Day”. In his first game as a pro footballer, he was awarded with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and on the same year, he was awarded MVP in the 2007 Pro Bowl. In 2010, he set the record, being the fifth fastest player to run 5,000 yards, and by 2012, became the sixth fastest player to achieve 8,000 rushing yards. He was ranked number one on the NFL network’s Top 100 players for 2013.
