Now that we have the defensive line established for the Vikings Quarter Century Team, we’re moving on to the second level with the inside linebackers!
In this group, we’ve got three names that stand out above the rest in Chad Greenway, Eric Kendricks, and Anthony Barr. All of them played nearly a decade with the Vikings and were consistent performers for the franchise.
Let’s go ahead and find out which player will be the first linebacker named to the team!
Chad Greenway (2006-2016)
The Vikings selected Greenway in the first
round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. His professional career got off to a rough start as he sustained a torn ACL in the first preseason game that year which caused him to miss his entire rookie campaign.
Greenway bounced back to start all 16 games the following year, posting 105 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for touchdown), four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. In 2008, Greenway broke out with a career high 116 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
In 2011, Greenway earned his first Pro Bowl honor after a career-high 154 tackles to go with six tackles for loss. In 2012, he was once again named to the Pro Bowl on top of earning his first and only Second-Team All-Pro honor.
Greenway ended his Vikings career with 1,140 tackles, 64 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, 11 interceptions, 35 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, and 11 fumble recoveries.
Eric Kendricks (2015-2022)
Kendricks was selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by way of UCLA. He started 11 of 14 games as a rookie, showing off a well-rounded skillset that helped him record 92 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks. He would later be named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team that year.
For eight years Kendricks was at the heart of the Vikings defense. From year two through the rest of his time in Minnesota, Kendricks recorded at least 100 tackles every season, including a career-high 143 in 2021. In 2019, Kendricks earned his first and only First-Team All-Pro honor while also being named to the Pro Bowl.
Anthony Barr (2014-2021, 2023)
Like his running mate for many years, Barr was also drafted out of UCLA in the first round of the 2014 draft. His career in Minnesota spanned nine seasons across two different stints. In that time, he totaled 496 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, five interceptions, 31 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries.
During his career, Barr made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons from 2015-2018.
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