The Vikings got a lot of phenomenal play from their defensive tackles through the first half of the century and it’s well-represented in our Quarter Century Team Poll.
We’re on to the defensive side of the ball!
Up first we’ve got our defensive tackles! Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, and Linval Joseph are our three players in the running for the Vikings Quarter Century Team.
Let’s get to it!
Kevin Williams (2003-2013)
Williams was selected by the Vikings with the ninth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. He immediately started all 16 games as a rookie, posting 10.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss to go with one interception and four pass breakups. For that effort, Willliams was named to the Pro Football Writers of American All-Rookie Team.
In 11 seasons with the Vikings, Williams was named a First-Team All-Pro five times (2004, 2006-2009) and earned six nods to the Pro Bowl (2004, 2006-2010). His final career totals included 465 tackles, 104 tackles for loss, 60 sacks, five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 68 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and 13 fumble recoveries (two returned for touchdowns).
Williams was also named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team, is a member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, and on the list of the 50 Greatest Vikings.
Linval Joseph (2014-2019)
Joseph joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2014 after spending the first four years of his career with the New York Giants. In six seasons with Minnesota, Joseph accumulated 350 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two passes defended, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
The only two Pro Bowl nods Joseph earned in his career came with the Vikings in 2016 and 2017.
Pat Williams (2005-2010)
Williams joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2005 after spending his first nine professional seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He would immediately start next to Kevin Williams for the next six seasons, racking up 294 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 13 passes defended, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.