Gamecock Hall of Famer Bobby Bryant Announced as Minnesota Vikings 2024 Ring of Honor Inductee
The Minnesota Vikings will induct former cornerback Bobby Bryant into the club’s Ring of Honor in 2024 as part of the Legends Weekend celebration for the Houston Texans game on Sept. 22. Bryant will become the first cornerback and third defensive back to enter the Vikings Ring of Honor.
“Bobby played a key role in the team’s Super Bowl seasons,” said Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf. “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. He is worthy of this recognition.”
“We are proud to recognize Bobby in the Vikings Ring of Honor,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. “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.”
Bryant was a two-sport standout at South Carolina in the mid-‘60s. A first-team All-American as a defensive back in 1966, Bryant won the Anthony J. McKelvin Award in 1967 as the outstanding athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He lettered three times in both football (1964-66) and baseball (1965-67) and was drafted in both sports. He still holds the school record for the longest punt return (98 yards) and was the first Gamecock pitcher to strike out 100 batters in a season. He was inducted into the South Carolina Association of Lettermen Hall of Fame in 1979.
Bryant, who was the Vikings seventh-round draft pick (167th overall) in 1967, spent 14 seasons with the team from 1967-80. His combined 57 regular season and playoff interceptions in his career rank first in Vikings history. His six playoff picks remain a team record, and he ranks second in regular season interceptions with 51. Despite missing his rookie season in 1967 and playing in just one game in 1974, Bryant’s 160 regular-season games played and 128 starts (174 games, 141 starts including playoffs) are second among Vikings cornerbacks, trailing only CB Carl Lee.
A starter in both Super Bowl VIII and XI, Bryant played on 11 division-winning Vikings teams. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 1969 and was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1975 season. In his career, Bryant scored six defensive touchdowns, including the Vikings longest playoff interception returned for a touchdown with a 63-yarder at Dallas in 1973. He also scored on a 90-yard blocked field goal return in post-season play against the Los Angeles Rams in 1976, which is the longest playoff touchdown scored in team history. Bryant was a key part of Vikings defenses that ranked first in the NFL in pass defense five times from 1969-76.
The addition brings the Vikings Ring of Honor to 28 members. Current members include Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Fred Zamberletti, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Korey Stringer, Mick Tingelhoff, Carl Eller, Cris Carter, Bill Brown, Jerry Burns, Randall McDaniel, Chuck Foreman, John Randle, Scott Studwell, Chris Doleman, Matt Blair, Joey Browner, Ahmad Rashad, Randy Moss, Dennis Green, Steve Jordan, Kevin Williams and Jared Allen.
VIKINGS CAREER INTERCEPTIONS (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)
57 ………………… Bobby Bryant (51 regular season/6 playoffs)
56 ………………… Paul Krause (53 regular season/3 playoffs)
VIKINGS CAREER TAKEAWAYS (REGULAR SEASON, INTERCEPTIONS & FUMBLE RECOVERIES)
63 ………………… Paul Krause (53/10)
58 ………………… Bobby Bryant (51/7)
VIKINGS CAREER INTERCEPTION RETURN TDs (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)
4 …………………. Bobby Bryant (3 regular season/1 playoffs)
4 …………………. Harrison Smith (4 regular season/0 playoffs)
VIKINGS CAREER GAMES PLAYED/STARTED BY DEFENSIVE BACKS (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)
190/168 ………… Paul Krause, S
183/182 ………… Harrison Smith, S
177/152 ………… Carl Lee, CB
174/141 ………… Bobby Bryant, CB
