Lunchbreak: Thielen, Hunter & Others Recall ‘Favorite’ Plays of Football Careers

[Viktor]

“Once I did that, the ball was sitting right there,” Thielen said. “It was like slow motion.”


Thielen grabbed the pigskin and raced 30 yards to the end zone, spiking the ball and pounding his chest in celebration for the most meaningful play of his career.


Hunter’s favorite play wasn’t a defensive touchdown, but it did score points for the Vikings.


The defensive end told Graff that he’ll always remember his safety on Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, which occurred in Week 3 of the 2016 season at Carolina.


Hunter explained that the quarterback was his favorite player growing up.


Graff wrote:


Hunter was floored by the chance to play Newton. During warm-ups, he looked over and saw Newton.


“He looked like a defensive end,” Hunter said. “He’s a big dude.”


Late in the first quarter, Hunter lined up across from Panthers left tackle Michael Oher, who had been the subject of movie, The Blind Side.


Not only was Hunter trying to get to a quarterback he idolized, he had to win a matchup with a player who was the focal point of a move he’d seen numerous times.


Graff explained how Hunter recorded the safety:


Hunter went right through Oher, who fell onto his back. The left guard saw that, and jumped over to try to help block Hunter, but he, too, was no match. Soon, Hunter had snuck behind his childhood idol, who was five yards into the end zone searching for a receiver downfield. Hunter threw Newton to the ground for a safety.


“Luckily he didn’t see me, because I’m pretty sure if he would’ve seen me, it would’ve been harder to bring him down,” Hunter said. “But luckily I was able to. That was an intense moment.”


Hunter hasn’t recorded a safety since, but the Vikings defense got one in Week 5 from linebacker Anthony Barr.


Graff also chatted with a handful of other Vikings players about their most memorable moments in football.


Harrison Smith recalled his first-career pick-six as a rookie, while Kirk Cousins and Britton Colquitt mentioned wild moments from high school. Ameer Abdullah went with a last-minute touchdown catch at Nebraska.


Graff’s full story can be found here.