Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers: #45

Today in our Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers series, we come to the number 45. This particular number got off to a really good start early in Vikings’ history, but has fallen off significantly, as nobody of any real note has worn the number in over 30 years.

The first Viking to wear the number 45 was cornerback Ed Sharockman. Sharockman was drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 1961 NFL Draft, making him one of the original Vikings. He played for the team for 12 seasons, and didn’t play for any other team but the Vikings. He retired in 1972, and is still third in team history for interceptions as a Viking with 40, a number that trails only Paul Krause and Bobby Bryant. Sharockman started 121 of his 142 career games, and was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings of all time.

The other prominent player to wear the number 45 in Vikings’ history is safety Tom Hannon. Hannon was a third round pick of the Vikings in 1977, and from 1979 to 1984 started every non-strike game for the Vikings. He had 15 interceptions in his Vikings career, and was a part of some pretty solid defenses despite not winning any individual honors or accolades of his own.

Honestly, that’s just about it for the number 45, folks.

Vikings that have worn the number 45:

• Ed Sharockman (1961 - 1972)
• Pete Athas (1975)
• Tom Hannon (1977 - 1984)
• Wayne Wilson (1986)
• Brett Wilson (1987)
• Leonard Moore (1987)
• John Henry Mills (1999)
• Charles Stackhouse (2003)
• Sean Berton (2003)
• Richard Owens (2006)
• Garrett Mills (2007 - 2008)

Tomorrow we hit the number 44, and the answer to that one is one that most of us already know the answer to, I think.