By Craig Peters
EAGAN, Minn. — 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.
Bryant's 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame was smaller than other players, but the plays he made loomed large in scale and significance.
In the 1973 NFC Championship, Bryant was heavily involved in a 27-10 win at Dallas to send Minnesota to Super Bowl VIII. He intercepted Roger Staubach at the Minnesota 2-yard line and played a part in another pass being intercepted by Jeff Siemon at the Minnesota 21-yard line.
He then iced the contest with a 63-yard return of an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It meant so much to Bryant, who had missed Minnesota's appearance in Super Bowl IV because of a knee injury.
In the 1976 NFC Championship, Bryant started the party when he scooped a football made available when Nate Allen blocked a short field goal and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. Bryant added two more interceptions in the 24-13 Vikings win that advanced Minnesota to Super Bowl XI.
"He's one of those players that just got the work done and in spectacular fashion," Page said of Bryant. "The plays that I remember the most are the occasional blocked kick, and the next thing you know, Bobby's in the end zone with a touchdown. That can only happen if you're really connected to the game, being in the right place at the right time and being aware of what the possibilities are."
Tarkenton told Bryant, "You made as many great plays as any great player we had" and said he is "richly deserving" of being in the Vikings Ring of Honor.
"Alan was talking about the NFC Championship Game in Minneapolis against the Los Angeles Rams. You got the ball and ran 90 yards, maybe 120, for a touchdown, and it turned that game around," Tarkenton said. "It wasn't unusual for you. Of all the players I've played with, you're the unsung hero because you made more great plays than anybody I've ever played with."
Page, a 1967 draft classmate and Bryant's roommate while with the Vikings, and Tarkenton were just as elated for Bryant to receive this distinction.
"In terms of having somebody you could rely on in a very quiet but confident way, he went about doing phenomenal work," Page said. "I was honored and privileged to have spent so much time with Bobby and to share roommate opportunities with him. I want to say thank you for being who you are and the friend that you are."
VIKINGS RING OF HONOR
Bryant is joining the following players in the Vikings Ring of Honor: 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)
- Bobby Bryant, 57 (51 regular season; 6 playoffs)
- Paul Krause, 56 (53 regular season; 3 playoffs)
VIKINGS CAREER TAKEAWAYS (REGULAR SEASON, INT AND FR)
- Paul Krause, 63 (53/10)
- Bobby Bryant, 58 (51/7)
VIKINGS CAREER INTERCEPTION RETURN TDs (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)
T-1. Bobby Bryant, 4 (3 regular season, 1 playoffs)
T-1. Harrison Smith, 4 (4 regular season)
VIKINGS CAREER GAMES PLAYED/STARTED BY DEFENSIVE BACKS (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)
- Paul Krause, 190 (168 starts)
- Harrison Smith, 183 (182 starts)
- Carl Lee, 177 (152 starts)
- Bobby Bryant, 174 (141 starts)
