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October 23, 2020
www.letsplayfootballmn.com
Let’s Play Football
Minnesotans in the NFL Thielen approaching 100th regular season game by BRYAN ZOLLMAN Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is set to become the 45th Minnesota-born player to play in 100 NFL regular season games. Barring an injury, Thielen will reach the milestone on Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 22. Thielen, who hails from Detroit Lakes and attended Minnesota State University-Mankato, will reach the milestone in his seventh season at age 30. He had played in all 16 regular season games his first five seasons before missing six games last year with an injury. He has played in 96 regular season games thus far and has caught 32 touchdown passes on 355 receptions for 4,340 yards. He has long way to go, however, to reach Minnesota legend Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is the all-time leader in games played by a Minnesota-born player, having suited up for his 256th game Monday night where he caught a
pass to make it 249 consecutive games where he has had at least one reception. Only five Minnesota-born players have ever played in at least 200 NFL regular season games. They include Fitzgerald (256), Terrell Suggs (244), Rohn Stark (233), Matt Birk (210) and Dave Dalby (205). Fitzgerald, Suggs and Stark are all Minneapolis natives and Birk is from St. Paul. Dalby hails from Alexandria. Birk and Dalby were both centers and Stark was a punter. Suggs played his final season last year as a linebacker. Thielen currently ranks 47th in games played for a Minnesota-born player but is expected to pass Marion Barber III and Justin Hartwig, who each played 99 games. Fitzgerald and Tom Compton of Rosemount are the only active Minnesota-born players with at least 100 games under their belt. Compton, a tackle from Rosemount, has played in exactly 100 games for six different teams.
Games Played in NFL Player Larry Fitzgerald Terrell Suggs Rohn Stark Matt Birk Dave Dalby Keith Fahnhorst Greg Larson Larry Cole Steve Nelson Jim LeClair Jeff Siemon John Fina Gino Cappelletti Jim Langer Steve Heiden Dave Casper Milt Sunde Errol Mann Ramon Humber Chip Lohmiller Barry Bennett Jon Borchardt Corbin Lacina Les Josephson Marcus Sherels Bob Wetoska Steve Martin Matt Herkenhoff Steve Zabel Matt Spaeth Ben Hamilton James Laurinaitis Craig Dahl Derek Rackley Ryan Harris Steve Kiner Adam Goldberg Eric Decker Jim Carter Todd Kalis Michael Floyd Rod Smith Tom Compton Jacky Lee
Pos WR LB P C C T C DE LB LB LB T FL C TE TE G K MLB K DT G G RB DB T DT T LB TE G LB DB TE T LB G WR LB G WR DB T QB
City Minneapolis Minneapolis Minneapolis St. Paul Alexandria St. Cloud Minneapolis Clarkfield Farmington St. Paul Rochester Rochester Keewatin Little Falls Rushford Bemidji Minneapolis Breckenridge Brooklyn Park Woodbury St. Paul Minneapolis Mankato Minneota Rochester Minneapolis St. Paul Melrose Minneapolis St. Michael Minneapolis Hamel Mankato Apple Valley Minneapolis Sandstone Edina Cold Spring St. Paul Stillwater St. Paul St. Paul Rosemount Minneapolis
From To 2004 2020 2003 2019 1982 1997 1998 2012 1972 1985 1974 1987 1961 1973 1968 1980 1974 1987 1972 1983 1972 1982 1992 2002 1960 1970 1970 1981 1999 2009 1974 1984 1964 1974 1968 1978 2009 2018 1988 1996 1978 1988 1979 1987 1994 2003 1964 1974 2010 2019 1960 1969 1996 2004 1976 1985 1970 1979 2007 2015 2002 2010 2009 2016 2007 2015 2000 2007 2007 2016 1970 1978 2004 2011 2010 2017 1970 1978 1988 1995 2012 2018 1992 1998 2012 2020 1960 1969
G 255 244 233 210 205 193 179 176 174 158 156 155 153 151 148 147 147 137 136 135 132 130 129 129 128 128 127 125 124 123 118 117 117 116 114 114 112 111 106 103 102 102 100 100
Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is closing in on 100 career regular season games, making him the 45th Minnesota-born player to reach the milestone. Two other active Minnesota-born players have played in at least 100 regular season games. Tom Compton, from Rosemount, is currently at 100 and playing with the San Francisco 49ers. Larry Fitzgerald played in his 256th game Monday night and leads all Minnesota-born players in games played.
Larry Fitzgerald
Tom Compton
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