Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers: #34

The number 34 hasn’t been a particularly great number in the history of the Minnesota Vikings, but it hasn’t been especially bad either. We have a couple of running backs and a safety that are worthy of consideration for this one.

Going in chronological order, as we always do, we’ll start with running back Rickey Young. Young began his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, and came to the Vikings in 1976 in the trade that sent offensive lineman Ed White to the Chargers. In his first season in Minnesota, he led the entire National Football League with 88 receptions, breaking Chuck Foreman’s record for receptions in a season by a running back. He was pretty productive for his first four seasons as a Viking, but saw limited action in 1982 and 1983 and decided to hang it up. When he retired, he held the NFL record for career receptions by a running back with 408.

Of course, no discussion of the #34 in Vikings history would be complete without mentioning Herschel Walker. We all know the story about how Walker came to be a Viking. . .lord, do we know the story. In his 2 1/2 seasons in Minnesota, he rushed for 2,264 yards and 20 touchdowns, which is not nearly enough given what the Vikings gave up for him. We can sit here and debate how Walker was actually utilized 9or not utilized) all day, but those are the numbers.

Last, we have safety Andrew Sendejo. Sendejo is another player that the Vikings have developed from undrafted free agent to practice squad member to relatively productive starter. He’s been the primary safety next to Harrison Smith for the past couple of seasons, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to be relinquishing that job in the near future.

Vikings that have worn the number 34:

• Jim Young (1965 - 1966)
• Al Randolph (1973)
• Rickey Young (1978 - 1983)
• Danny Waggoner (1984)
• Timothy Starks (1987)
• Herschel Walker (1989 - 1991)
• Brian Davis (1994)
• Ramos McDonald (1998 - 1999)
• Doug Chapman (2001 - 2003)
• Albert Young (2009 - 2010)
• Andrew Sendejo (2011 - present)

The number 33 comes tomorrow, folks. . .just 33 days from the start of the 2017 NFL regular season.