Vikings’ Top Backup Switches to Cursed Number
The Minnesota Vikings have six jersey numbers retired. In 1979, Fran Tarkenton’s 10 got the first nod, followed by Alan Page’s 88 in 1988, and Jim Marshall’s 70 nearly a decade later. Mick Tingelhoff (53) and Korey Stringer (70) joined in 2001, and Cris Carter’s 80 in 2003.
Vikings’ Top Backup Switches to Cursed Number
Those six numbers are off limits; all others are available and can be picked by the 53 players on the roster.
Six Vikings changed theirs right ahead of the season:
- 4 WR Myles Price (was 31)
- 6 CB Dwight McGlothern (was 29)
- 8 CB Jeff Okudah (was 21)
- 85 TE Ben Yurosek (was 48)
- 97 DT Javon Hargrave (was 98)
- 98 OLB Bo Richter (was 54)
Hargrave chose the number previously occupied by team captain and fellow defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, whom the Vikings shipped to the New York Jets. Okudah might look a little strange in Kirk Cousins’ jersey (worn by Trishton Jackson in 2024). Price, meanwhile, might look exactly like Brandon Powell, his predecessor at returning punts, who also wore number four. Richter’s 98 was snatched by Hargrave this offseason, but he got it back now.
And then, there’s cornerback Dwight McGlothern, switching from 29 to 6. His previous number was once worn by Xavier Rhodes, who, in his heyday, might have been the best Vikings cornerback ever. Number 6 was assigned to axed linebacker Brian Asamoah and to former draft bust, safety Lewis Cine.
Other players wearing 6 in franchise history: Bubby Brister, Hayden Epstein, Jim Gallery, Jay Walker, and Matt Wile. That doesn’t nearly reach 29’s group of Rhodes, Karl Kassulke, Chester Taylor, and Brian Williams, among others.
Initially, McGlothern had number 47 in the last preseason, but he received a number with more cornerback tradition once he made the 53-man roster.
McGlothern is currently the fourth cornerback on the depth chart, behind starters Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, as well as CB3 Jeff Okudah. For some reason, the club only kept four corners on the roster. Zemaiah Vaughn and Fabian Moreau are on the practice squad, in a room that might need another reinforcement.
The sophomore, however, might enjoy the current group because he’s only one injury away from seeing his snap numbers explode.
His 2025 preseason didn’t quite match the level of performance he achieved in his 2024 exhibitions, but McGlothern still has an excellent track record in August, having been targeted a total of 13 times over the last 13 months for eight catches and 65 yards. He also snatched one interception, and the passer rating allowed is an embarrassing (for the passer) 42.1.
The DB possesses a promising athletic profile, with the requisite length at 6’2″ and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, although it is combined with underwhelming results in broad and vertical jumps.
In his 38 games in college, McGlothern accumulated 113 tackles and eight interceptions. The intriguing aspect is that seven of those came in his two final college seasons, showing his knack for the ball.
Last season, McGlothern had a quiet year, mostly stuck on the depth chart behind a quartet of veterans. The defender appeared in five games and logged 19 defensive snaps and 17 on special teams. He had 12 coverage snaps, allowing zero catches on two targets.
Fellow defensive back Cine was cut last preseason. The Vikings decided to move on from their former first-rounder after his third preseason. Asamoah switched to number six and was cut a couple of weeks ago. Since then, he has already been on two other teams.
Let’s hope the 23-year-old corner has more luck.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.