Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
Vikings-Lions Connections
Minnesota T Riley Reiff was selected by Detroit in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He started 69 of the 77 games he played for the Lions and joined the Vikings in 2017.
Vikings RB Ameer Abdullah was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played in 35 games for Detroit before joining Minnesota in November 2018.
Minnesota CB Chris Jones played for Detroit in Week 3 earlier this season.
Lions RB Adrian Peterson is the Vikings franchise leader in numerous records, including career rushing yards (11,747) and touchdowns (97).
Detroit DE Everson Griffen recorded 74.5 sacks in 10 seasons (2010-19) with Minnesota.
Lions S Jayron Kearse was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft and played in 62 games for Minnesota from 2016-19.
Lions CB Justin Coleman spent the 2015 offseason with the Vikings after signing as an undrafted free agent.
Detroit Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell (2006-10) and assistant strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy (2006-13) held the same role with Minnesota.
Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley was the assistant offensive line coach for the Vikings from 2014-16, overlapping with Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, Co-Defensive Coordinators Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer, assistant special teams coach Ryan Ficken, receivers coach Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak and assistant strength and conditioning coach Chaz Mahle.
Professional Connections
Vikings C Brett Jones and Lions DE Romeo Okwara teamed together on the Giants from 2016-17.
Minnesota DT Shamar Stephen and Detroit CB Justin Coleman were teammates in Seattle in 2018.
Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf worked with Lions Defensive Coordinator Cory Undlin with the Browns and with Lions tight ends coach Ben Johnson with the Dolphins. Undlin, who was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, overlapped with Vikings running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu in Jacksonville. Johnson worked with Minnesota defensive backs coach Daronte Jones with the Dolphins.
Lions Special Teams Coordinator Brayden Coombs and running backs coach Kyle Caskey worked with Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, Co-Defensive Coordinator Adam Zimmer and Jones in Cincinnati. Detroit receiver Marvin Jones, Jr., played for Cincinnati when Mike Zimmer and Adam Zimmer were with the Bengals.
Detroit receivers coach Robert Prince worked with Polamalu and Mahle in Jacksonville.
Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis worked with Vikings assistant defensive backs coach Roy Anderson at LSU and senior defensive assistant Dom Capers with the Dolphins.
College Connections
Vikings S Anthony Harris and Lions OL Oday Aboushi at Virginia
Minnesota WR Dan Chisena at Penn State with Detroit LB Jason Cabinda and CB Amani Oruwariye
Vikings LB Ryan Connelly and Lions WR Quintez Cephus at Wisconsin
Minnesota LB Troy Dye and Detroit T Tyrell Crosby at Oregon
Vikings RG Pat Elflein and DE Jalyn Holmes at Ohio State with Lions T Taylor Decker; Holmes with Lions CB Jeff Okudah for one season
Minnesota WR Chad Beebe and Detroit WR Kenny Golladay at Northern Illinois
Vikings TE Irv Smith, Jr., and Lions DT Da'Shawn Hand at Alabama
Minnesota DT Armon Watts and Detroit C Frank Ragnow at Arkansas