My Five Favorite Vikings of All-Time
Nov 29, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes former player and NFL wide receiver Cris Carter addresses fans at the skull session before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
1. Cris Carter
After falling into substance abuse issues, the Philadelphia Eagles had to cut Cris Carter loose. Coach Buddy Ryan famously said, “All he does is catch touchdowns,” as an excuse for letting him go. Carter thanked Ryan in his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech for waking him up and also allowing Carter the opportunity for a fresh start.
Luckily for us, that fresh start came in Minnesota, and the rest is history. He arrived in Minneapolis in 1990, and was the leader of the Vikings’ receiving corps until the end of the 2001 season. During his time, he made some of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen. He was also one of the most productive receivers of all-time, including holding the single-season reception record at one point.
The other reason he is tops on the list is that he was one of my first sports “heroes”, along with Kirby Puckett. I have always put my dad first, and have always understood that the real heroes are in different uniforms. Still, I grew up wanting to be an NFL football player.
I grew up wanting to be Cris Carter.