The Minnesota Vikings are entering their own version of the Final Countdown.
The 2024 season is upon us and the excitement is palpable. As we get through the offseason, everyone wants to see quarterback J.J. McCarthy in a Vikings uniform. It will signal a new era in Vikings football for many reasons.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell are entering their third seasons in control of the Vikings and it's crunch time. They now have the team shaped in their image and it's going to be pivotal for their future to be successful in the next two seasons.
With 98 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 98 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):
Every Vikings player to wear No. 96
DT Ross Blacklock 2022
The Vikings traded for Blacklock on cutdown day with the theory of buying low on a talented player who hadn't broken out yet. It was a failed experiment and he was cut after one season with the team.
DT Armon Watts 2019-2021
The Vikings drafted Watts in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and he lasted three seasons with the team. He was let go to make room for Blacklock. He has since played with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers
DT Tom Johnson 2018
Johnson was a fixture on those early Mike Zimmer teams and he saw his most success here. Of his 25.5 sacks, 20.5 of them came when Johnson was a member of the Vikings. He wore 92 during his first four years and 96 when he came back to the Vikings after a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks.
DE Brian Robison 2007-2017
Robison was a fourth-round pick out of the University of Texas who played all 11 seasons with the Vikings. He started out as a rotational player before earning a starting job in 2011. During his career, Robison had 60.0 sacks with a stretch from 2011-2013 where he had 8.0, 8.5 and 9.0 sacks.
DT Ross Kolodziej 2006
Kolodziej spent seven years in the National Football league with a one year hiatus in 2003. He was a seventh round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft and played the 2006 season with the Vikings. During that year, he played in 12 games with zero starts and accumulated just five tackles and one for loss.
DT C.J. Mosley 2005
The Vikings selected Mosley in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He lasted just his rookie season with the Vikings before he moved onto the New York Jets. Mosley ended up playing 140 games with 31 starts over an 11 year career across six teams.
DT Billy Lyon 2003
The Vikings have a history of signing former Green Bay Packers to play for them with one of the first ones being Lyon. He didn't last long, playing just 13 games as a reserve player in 2003 before never playing again tin the NFL.
LB Andre O'Neal 2001
O'Neal had a short career in the NFL. he played in just 19 games over two seasons but did so with three teams. For the Vikings, he played in four games with one start and had four tackles with one for loss.
DT Jerry Ball 1997-1999
Ball was a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 1987 NFL Draft. He played in the Motor City for six years before he spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. During his three seasons, Ball was a fan favorite at nose tackle and had 61 tackles with 2.0 for loss and 1.0 sacks.
DE Skip McClendon 1992
McClendon had just a cup of coffee with the Vikings. He played in 92 games across seven NFL seasons but only played in three with the Vikings during the 1992 season. McClendon failed to record a stat during his time with the Vikings.
DT Tim Newton 1985-1989
The Vikings selected Newton with the 164th overall pick in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Vikings where he made 25 starts in 62 career games with the purple and gold. He recorded 8.0 sacks and forced four fumbles during his time in Minnesota.
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