Vikings’ Next Hall of Famers Are Pretty Cut and Dried
The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have any Hall of Fame inductions this cycle, but when the time comes, the following two inductees are fairly obvious.
Vikings’ Next Hall of Famers Are Pretty Cut and Dried
Steve Hutchinson was the last Viking to get the cherished nod — and that was four years ago.
Without much debate, these two men are up next.
Jared Allen (DE)
Allen is eligible now to enter the Hall of Fame but has been snubbed for four consecutive years. The former Viking retired in 2015 after a Super Bowl appearance with the Carolina Panthers.
Based on the numbers, Allen’s pass-rushing production should automate his entry into the Hall of Fame sooner than later. He shouldn’t be a “fringe” candidate, waiting on multiple lists for years to don a gold jacket. Bryant Young from the San Francisco 49ers, who got the call on two years ago, retired in 2007. If Allen must follow in his footsteps — a godforsaken wait — he’d earn HOF credentialing in 2030 or so. That’s too far away.
Richard Seymour was inducted into the 2022 class, riding his career total of 57.5 sacks and three 1st-Team All-Pro selections to football’s eternal club. Allen, who was denied entry during this cycle again, tabulated 136 sacks and four 1st-Team All-Pro inclusions.
Allen ought to be granted the HOF greenlight next year — and don’t get it twisted, it should’ve happened this go-round or any of the last four — for two elementary reasons. While the attributes of an EDGE rusher are more complicated than “just sacks,” the NFL didn’t measure the fancy stuff like pressures at the dawn of the league. Sacks are the best metric to use when adjudicating the “old-time” pass rushers, mainly because those are “it” for defensive end numbers. And as always, the Pro Bowls help, too. Allen has five Pro Bowl seasons to Seymour’s seven. Fair enough.
On sacks, Allen ranks 16th in NFL history with 136 — more than Carl Eller, Rickey Jackson, Charley Haley, Andre Tippett, etc. All of those men are in the Hall of Fame. Allen has more sacks than them.
Too, during Allen’s playing career, 2004 to 2015, he led the NFL in sacks during that 12-season span. Plain and simple. In those twelve seasons, no man sacked the quarterback more. This stat alone — yes, there is more nuance to defense than sacks alone — should be the rubberstamp.
Adrian Peterson (RB)
Peterson, on the other hand, won’t require much Hall of Fame advocacy. Allen shouldn’t either, but we digress.
How does Peterson get into the Hall? Time. Assuming he doesn’t sign with an NFL team — he hasn’t expressly retired, and in fact, usually tells some branch of media at least once annually that he still wants to play in the league — Peterson can expect induction in 2026.
Drafted in 2007 by the Vikings, Peterson ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards, trailing the legendary Barry Sanders for fourth place by just 352 yards. He also ranks fourth in rushing touchdowns, needing just four more to pass Marcus Allen for third all-time. His numbers are likely cemented, though, as an “unretirement” would’ve happened by now.
Peterson played for an extensive list of teams, including the Vikings, Saints, Cardinals, Commanders, Lions, Titans, and Seahawks.
The beloved former Viking also ranks second on the purple team’s all-time list for touchdowns (102), trailing Cris Carter by eight scores (110).
He will earn Hall of Fame induction, which could occur before Allen at the current rate.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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