Welcome to the All-Time Favorite Viking Team series. We’re going through and voting by position for your favorite Viking players. There are no set criteria other than they played for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s your favorite player at that position.
We’re moving on with return specialists. This can be punt or kick returns.
Cordarelle Patterson (2013-2016)
284 Kick Returns for 8,229 yards and 9 TDs
1 Punt Return for 9 yards
Patterson has the most kick return TDs in the history of the NFL. He’s average on offense as a receiver/runner, but he’s electric as a returner. I am surprised he’s only had one punt return in his career. Patterson is 4x 1st Team All-Pro, 2x 2nd Team All-Pro, and 4x Pro Bowler. He’s not the 1st round receiver the Vikings had hoped for, but he is the best kick returner in NFL history.
Marcus Sherels (2011-2019)
243 Punt Returns for 2,503 yards and 5 TDs
57 Kick Returns for 1,416 yards
Sherels stuck around for a lot longer than most expected. My favorite memory will be in Week 5 in 2016 against the Houston Texans. It was my 30th birthday weekend and my first trip to the new stadium. Harrison Smith dropped an easy pick 6 on 3rd down and Sherels returned the punt for a TD. The University of Minnesota alumni was popular in his time. He never quite made an impact on defense like he did on special teams.
Percy Harvin (2009-2012)
152 Kick Returns for 4,127 yards and 5 TDs
Harvin famously had a kickoff return TD to start the 2nd half in Super Bowl XLVIII. All 5 of his regular season return TDs were with the Vikings. Harvin made the Pro Bowl and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2009.
David Palmer (1994-2000)
162 Punt Returns for 1,610 yards and 2 TDs
145 Kick Returns for 3,274 yards and 1 TD
Palmer was a return specialist that played sparingly on offense. His entire 7 year career was in Minnesota.
Qadry Ismail (1993-1996)
189 Kick Returns for 4,135 yards
Ismail became a really good receiver for the Ravens in year 7 of his career. He was a good piece for the Vikings in the early 90s. I remember him as a player, but not in Minnesota.
Leo Lewis (1981-1991)
201 Punt Returns for 1,868 yards and 1 TD
8 Kick Returns for 137 yards
Lewis was a decent receiver in the mid 80s with just under three thousand career yards. I don’t think he was the best returner ever.
Darrin Nelson (1982-1992)
68 Punt Returns for 357 yards
163 Kick Returns for 3,659 yards
Nelson was a jack of all trades. He was good at a lot, but not great at anything.
Kene Nwangwu (2021-2023)
71 Kick Returns for 2,036 yards and 4 TDs
Kene was lightning fast and started with 2 return TDs his rookie year. He was 2nd Team All-Pro in year 2.
Mewelde Moore (2004-2007)
83 Punt Returns for 792 yards and 2 TDs
47 Kick Returns for 839 yards
Eddie Payton (1980-1982)
156 Punt Returns for 1,387 yards and 1 TD
156 Kick Returns for 3,676 yards and 2 TDs
Randy Moss (1998-2004, 2010) Honorable Mention
18 Punt Returns for 162 yards and 1 TD
2 Kick Returns for 33 yards
The Hall of Famer doesn’t have enough returns to truly be considered here, but that TD against the Chiefs was fun.
.@RandyMoss had his only punt return touchdown against the Chiefs in 1999. #tbt
WATCH: http://t.co/ZxljDxp5Os pic.twitter.com/BQHttLBHUc
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 15, 2015
Punter –
Kicker – Fred Cox (1963-1977)
Running Back – Adrian Peterson (2007-2016)
Quarterback – Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1972-1978)
Wide Receivers – Randy Moss (1998-2004, 2010) & Cris Carter (1990-2001)
Tight Ends – Steve Jordan (1982-1994) & Jim Kleinsasser (1999-2011)
Offensive Tackles – Ron Yary (1968-1981) & Gary Zimmerman (1986-1992)
Offensive Guards – Randall McDaniel (1988-1999) & Steve Hutchinson (2006-2011)
Center – Mick Tingelhoff (1962-1978)