Minnesota Vikings legend takes crucial step forward toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Multi-time All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams becomes a finalist to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 3, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings honor defensive tackle Kevin Williams, inducting him in the ring of honor at halftime as they play the Cleveland Browns at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time on Tuesday morning.

The Vikings have five defensive linemen already enshrined in Canton, Ohio, among their 21 players and 26 individuals. Jim Marshall should be enshrined, but he’s still waiting.

  • Carl Eller
  • Alan Page
  • Chris Doleman
  • John Randle
  • Jared Allen

Kevin Williams named a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Williams is one of the best candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame the Vikings have to offer, and this is his first time as a finalist. He was a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame last year and didn’t make it to the final stage. When you look at the data, he should have.

Williams was quietly one of the best players in the 2010s at defensive tackle. He didn’t have a lot of publicity during his career, and it didn’t help that the Vikings were relatively quiet in that era. Even so, Williams made six Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000s team. In fact, he’s one of just five players to have these kinds of accolades and not be enshrined.

What’s really interesting about Williams’ numbers is that his only double-digit sack seasons came in his first two seasons in the NFL. This also came after he held out with his rookie contract, because the Vikings selected him at ninth overall, two picks after they were scheduled to select, but they let the clock expire while trying to negotiate a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers jumped the Vikings to select quarterback Byron Leftwich and left tackle Jordan Gross, respectfully.

With 63.0 sacks and 113.0 tackles for loss in his career, Williams has the numbers to make the Hall of Fame, and it’s time to get him his gold jacket.

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