Bobby Bryant To Be Inducted Into Vikings Ring of Honor
Bobby Bryant found his way to the football and the end zone.
Now, he’s making his way to the Vikings Ring of Honor.
The cornerback who recorded two interceptions and a touchdown in the 1973 and 1976 NFC Championship Games will become the 28th inductee, third defensive back and first cornerback in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
A ceremony is scheduled for halftime of the Week 3 game between the Vikings and the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium as part of Legends Weekend.
Bryant, a seventh-round pick in 1967, was surprised with the news during a recent video conference with Pro Football Hall of Famers Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page, Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf and Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf.
“We are proud to recognize Bobby in the Vikings Ring of Honor,” Mark Wilf said. “Bobby overcame the odds as a seventh-round draft pick, going on to play at a high level and with great durability over his career. Off the field he was unwavering in his faith and his commitment to the community. He deserves to be honored as one of the all-time Vikings greats.”
Zygi Wilf noted Bryant’s “key role” in the team’s Super Bowl seasons.
“He was a natural leader that teammates gravitated to, and his knack for making the big play in the biggest games was a driving force in so many Vikings wins over that time,” Zygi Wilf said. “He is worthy of this recognition.”
The video call had been presented to Bryant as an opportunity to reconnect with his teammates.
Bryant enjoyed reconnecting, as well as the delightful surprise.
“It’s an honor to be there. I never would have imagined I was good enough to be in that because that’s an elite group,” said the consistently humble Bryant, who totaled 174 games played (160 regular season; 14 postseason) and was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010.
He recorded 51 interceptions in regular-season games, which ranks second in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Paul Krause, who nabbed 53 for Minnesota to finish his career as the NFL’s all-time interceptions leader with 81.
“It was pretty easy being a defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings with Alan and Jim Marshall and Carl Eller and Gary Larsen and Doug Sutherland rushing the quarterback because as defensive backs, we knew if we could cover a receiver for four seconds, that’s all we needed to do,” Bryant said.
“On the other side of the ball, having a quarterback that is one of the GOATs of the game, greatest of all-time, Fran Tarkenton, we knew our offense was going to in most cases score enough points to win the game,” Bryant added. “I was very fortunate.”
The Vikings won 11 division titles during Bryant’s 14 seasons with the club and ranked first in the NFL in passing yards allowed five times from 1969-76.
From Minnesota Vikings