Click here to watch a video interview with John Randle with vikings.com Writer Mike Wobschall.
The Vikings on Tuesday announced that John Randle will become the newest member of the Vikings Ring of Honor when he is inducted into the illustrious fraternity at halftime of the Vikings-Bears game on November 30.
Randle, who last played for the Vikings in 2000, was invited back to training camp by Vikings ownership on Tuesday and told of the honor during the annual ownership retreat. Randle and his wife, Candace, met with ownership early this afternoon and they will be guests of the ownership group at this afternoon’s practice. Following practice, Randle with speak with local reporters about his induction into the Vikings Ring of Honor and his playing career in Minnesota.
Randle’s career is one that proves nothing is impossible. He went undrafted but was acquired by the Vikings in 1990 as a free agent and brought to training camp in Mankato. Three years later, Randle was heading to his first Pro Bowl after tallying 11.5 sacks during the 2003 season. Randle recorded double digit sacks during eight different seasons, including a career-high and league-leading 15.5 sacks in 1997; he led the Vikings in sacks nine different times (eight years consecutively).
“I didn’t know it at the time, but playing with John Randle was probably the best thing that’s happened to me in my football career,” Vikings veteran center Matt Birk said. “Late in his career and early in mine, I would play scout team against him and it helped me elevate my game to a level that would have been unachievable had he not been there.
“I was actually talking with Hutch (Steve Hutchinson) about John (Randle) the other day because he played with him in Seattle. And we both said we’d never seen a guy play so hard on every single play, regardless of whether it was in a game or in practice. In fact, I would guarantee that he never, ever took a play off during his entire career. He’s the best defensive tackle I’ve ever seen play the game.”
Birk’s words of Randle are echoed across the league, from players who lined up against him to teammates who lined up with him. Randle was known for a boisterous and outgoing personality, often being captured on camera making funny and outlandish noises before, during and after plays. His joy for the game was far from hidden and his affect on the game was easily-noticed as well.
Randle left the NFL tied with Richard Dent for fifth in career sacks, and his 137.5 career sacks is the most by a defensive tackle in NFL history. Over his career he was named to seven Pro Bowl squads.
Randle was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and he is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
The Ring of Honor recognizes Vikings legends for their contributions to the success of the team on and off the field. Members of the Ring of Honor are recognized with a banner on the façade of the Metrodome’s upper deck, forever living in Vikings lore.
Current members of the Vikings Ring of Honor are: Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Fred Zamberletti, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Korey Stringer, Mick Tingelhoff, Carl Eller, Cris Carter, Bill Brown, Jerry Burns, Randall McDaniel and Chuck Foreman.