:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55934589/usa_today_9740417.0.jpg)
It has been a significant length of time since the number 41 played a prominent role for the Minnesota Vikings. Many of the players that have worn it have only been with the team for a short time, but there is one player that was a prominent part of the early history of the team.
Way down in the 13th Round of the 1965 NFL Draft, the Vikings selected running back Dave Osborn from the University of North Dakota. Osborn played 11 seasons with the Vikings, meaning that he was a member of three of the Vikings’ four Super Bowl squads. He rushed for a career-high 972 yards in 1967, and made the Pro Bowl in 1970. He didn’t put up crazy numbers in most of his seasons with the team, but his 4,230 career rushing yards are still good enough for 6th place in the history of the franchise in that category.
Honestly, that’s just about all there is for the number 41 in the history of the Minnesota Vikings. As I mentioned, most of the players that have worn the number in team history were short-timers, but Osborn was with the team for 11 seasons and was fairly productive, so he’s the guy here.
Vikings that have worn the number 41:
- Gene Johnson (1961)
- Dave Osborn (1965 - 1975)
- Neal Guggemos (1986 - 1987)
- Solomon Wilcots (1991)
- Carey Scott (2002)
- Charles Gordon (2006 - 2008)
- Karl Paymah (2009)
- Frank Walker (2010)
- Mistral Raymond (2011 - 2013)
- Anthony Harris (2015 - present)
On to the last number of the 40s tomorrow, as we reach the #40. If you’ve been around The Daily Norseman long enough, the odds are pretty good that you already know who this one’s going to be. But there may be a vote, just for funsies.