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.
This is the 3rd article in the series and today we’ll finish off the Offensive Line. The two Offensive Tackles remain. This one is going to be a battle of new and old. Plenty of talent to go around.
Ron Yary (1968-1981)
6x All-Pro, 1x Second Team All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowls, 1970s NFL All-Decade Team, Vikings Ring of Honor, 50 Greatest Vikings, and Hall of Fame Inductee. Yary played 14 seasons at RT for the Vikings, including 4 Super Bowls.
Gary Zimmerman (1986-1992)
Zimmerman was named to 3 First Team All-Pro, 2 Second Team All-Pro, 7 Pro Bowls, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, 1990s All-Decade Team, 50 Greatest Vikings and Hall of Fame. He also won Super Bowl XXXII with the Denver Broncos. Zimmerman’s first half of his career in the NFL was with the Vikings before he moved on to the Denver Broncos from 1993-1997.
Grady Alderman (1961-1974)
Alderman was the starting left tackle for the Vikings first 14 seasons in the NFL after being selected in the expansion draft from the Detroit Lions. He missed only 3 games in those 14 years. He was named to 1 First Team All-Pro, 1 Second Team All-Pro, 6 Pro Bowls and the 50 Greatest Vikings.
Korey Stringer (1995-2000)
Sringer played 6 years for the Vikings and was named to the Pro Bowl in his final season. Korey passed away from complications from a heat stroke suffered on the 2nd day of the 2001 preseason training camp. He is in the Vikings Ring of Honor and his #77 is retired by the Vikings. The Korey Stringer Institute was founded in April of 2010 at the University of Connecticut in his honor (https://koreystringer.institute.uconn.edu/).
Bryant ‘Mount’ McKinnie (2002-2010)
McKinnie is 6’8” and was listed at around 350 lbs during his playing career. Most estimates have him weighing closer to 400 lbs. Surprisingly, McKinnie was only named to one Pro Bowl. He did win Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens after leaving the Vikings. McKinnie will be most remembered for his size and his role in the Love Boat scandal.
Brian O’Neil (2018-present)
The Vikings’ current RT has been named to 2 Pro Bowls, so far. He’s widely considered one of the top RTs currently playing.
Christian Darrisaw (2021-present)
The Vikings’ current LT is one of the best in the game. He missed some games early with some concussions and last year with a knee injury. If he can stay healthy, he’s one of the best.
Todd Steussie (1994-2000)
Steussie was the starting LT for the Vikings for his first 7 years in the league, missing only 1 game. He was named to 2 Pro Bowls and 2 Second Team All-Pro. He bounced around the league another 7 years after the Vikings with the Panthers, Bucs and Rams.
Tim Irwin (1981-1993)
Irwin wasn’t renowned league wide, but he was a Viking for 14 years, making 181 starts. From 1983-1993 Irwin only missed 4 games. He was a dependable RT that you could pencil in every week.
Steve Riley (1974-1984)
Riley played all 11 of his season in the NFL for the Vikings.
Phil Loadholt (2009-2014)
Loadholt might be a surprise addition to the list to some. It’s more of a personal connection. I used to curse his name almost weekly watching the Vikings. I was on a trip in Vegas during the 2011 (maybe 2012) season and saw a group of people wearing Loadholt Viking jerseys. I always wished I would’ve gone up and said hello. Loadholt’s career ended prematurely. He tore his pectoral in 2014 and Achilles in 2015 before deciding to retire.