Watch CBS News

Gary Anderson, Jared Allen Among Preliminary Nominees For 2022 Hall Of Fame Class

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame released its preliminary list of 122 nominees for the 2022 class, and some fan favorite Vikings are among the names.

Perhaps the biggest names are two defensive lineman -- Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. The two played in the trenches alongside each other for six seasons in Minnesota.

Jared Allen and Kevin Williams
Kevin Williams and Jared Allen at training camp in 2012. (credit: CBS)

Allen racked up 85.5 sacks during his time with the Vikings, and has a career total of 136. He nearly broke the single season sack record in 2011, falling half a sack short.

Williams put up impressive sack numbers for a defensive tackle, totaling 60 in his time in Minnesota and 63 overall. He and fellow tackle Pat Williams formed the fearsome "Williams Wall" that was the anchor of the Vikings defense for several years.

Matt Birk
Matt Birk in 2006. (credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

On the offensive side of the ball, longtime center Matt Birk made the list. The Minnesota native started 123 games in the middle of the Vikings offensive line.

Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham (Photo Credit: John Zich/AFP/Getty Images)

Though Randall Cunningham spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, perhaps his best season as a passer came in 1998 with the Vikings. That year, he led what was at the time the highest scoring offense in NFL history to a 15-1 record. Cunningham threw for 3,704 yards and 34 touchdowns that season, and the team made it to the NFC Championship, losing to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.

Minnesota Vikings vs Seattle Seahawks - September 29, 2002
Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson (1) attempts a kick during a 48-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on September 29, 2002, at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tami Tomsic/Getty Images)

Speaking of that championship game, kicker Gary Anderson is also among the nominees. Though Vikings fans remember Anderson as the kicker who missed a crucial field goal in that game, before that, he had made 100% of his extra points and field goals that season. Anderson is the third highest-scoring player in NFL history.

Baltimore Ravens v Minnesota Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 18: Place kicker Ryan Longwell #8 of the Minnesota Vikings kicks the 31 yard game winning field goal from the hold of Chris Kluwe #5 with two minutes remaining in the game against the Baltimore Ravens during NFL action at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on October 18, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Ravens 33-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Another kicker who spent a few years with the Vikings, Ryan Longwell, is also among the nominees. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Green Bay Packers before crossing the border. He made 83.2% of his career kicks and is 20th on the all-time leading scorer list.

The list will be cut down to 25 in November, and 15 finalists will be named in January.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.