Minnesota Vikings By The Numbers: #33

There have actually been quite a few players that have worn the number 33 in the history of the Minnesota Vikings. Not many have made that big an impact, however. In our quest to find the best player with each number in team history, #33 pretty much comes down to one of three players.

First, we have running back Brent McClanahan. McClanahan played for the Vikings for seven seasons, from 1973 to 1979. He didn’t see the football much, having topped out at 170 offensive touches in 1976, and wound up rushing for just over 1,200 yards in his Vikings career (though he did do some return work as well). He’s also responsible for one of the more infamous plays in Vikings history. Following a Matt Blair punt block in Super Bowl XI against the Oakland Raiders, the Vikings had the ball at the Oakland 2-yard line. Fran Tarkenton handed the ball to McClanahan, who was hit and promptly fumbled with the Raiders recovering. McClanahan was on the team for several seasons after, but didn’t really do much.

Next, we have fullback Harold Morrow. Morrow wore the number 33 for longer than any other player in team history, as he had it from 1996 to 2002. He didn’t really light up the stat sheet, as is the case with most fullbacks, but going from being an undrafted free agent to playing ten seasons in the National Football League isn’t bad.

Our third primary candidate for this one is safety Jamarca Sanford. The Vikings drafted Sanford in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and he spent his first couple of seasons in Minnesota on special teams. From 2011 to 2013, he was a starter for the Vikings at safety, and though he wouldn’t be confused with Robert Griffith or anything, he was generally a solid presence in the Minnesota secondary. He left after the 2013 season, and had stops in both Washington and New Orleans before finding his way out of the league.

A brief honorable mention goes to running back Roger Craig. Craig may end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, but it really wouldn’t be because of the two seasons he spent in Minnesota at the end of his career.

Vikings that have worn the number 33:

• Mel Triplett (1961 - 1962)
• Billy Ray Barnes (1964 - 1965)
• Pete Tatman (1967)
• Brent McClanahan (1973 - 1979)
• Rick Bell (1983)
• Jeff Womack (1987)
• Jessie Clark (1989 - 1990)
• Roger Craig (1992 - 1993)
• Harold Morrow (1996 - 2002)
• John Avery (2003)
• Ralph Brown (2004 - 2005)
• Jamarca Sanford (2009 - 2013)
• Ben Tate (2014)
• Ronnie Hillman (2016)

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. We’re on to the number 32 on Sunday.