Chris Doleman

By Brad Berreman
Love of Sports Correspondent

Through the 1980s and ‘90s, former Minnesota Vikings DE Chris Doleman recorded 150.5 sacks in his NFL career (1985-1999).

That number currenly ranks fourth on the all-time list.

Doleman was the fourth overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, where his 25 career sacks still rank sixth in the school’s history as well.

He played his best seasons with the Vikings from 1985-1993, with his best being 1989, when he had 21 sacks – the third-best single-season mark in league history. He also had seven other seasons with double digits sack totals, including 15 in 1998 with the 49ers.

Doleman was always considered a little undersized to be a 4-3 defensive end, but that always proved to be unfounded. He was always overshadowed by the higher profile pass rushers of his era, like Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, Kevin Greene and Richard Dent, who were all active during many, if not all, of the years he played in the NFL. All of those players rank in the Top 12 on the all-time NFL sack list.

When Dennis Green took over as Vikings head coach in 1992, he seemed intent on cleaning out the players he perceived as “too old.” Doleman would play two season in the beginning of the Green era, then moved on to the Falcons for two years starting in 1994. He’d go on to play three seasons for the 49ers (1996-98) before returning to the Vikings in ‘99, his last in the NFL.

So, I’m sending some Old School Love to the underappreciated sack artist Chris Doleman. Here’s to you, Chris! Let’s hope newly acquired Jared Allen is as productive in his Viking tenure as you were.