South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-20 NFL Gamecocks of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 5 Greatest NFL Player of All-Time:
Cornerback/Kick Returner Bobby Bryant
Bobby Bryant (1964-1967) doesn’t get enough respect as an all-time great Gamecock, but he showed just how good he could be when he got to the NFL. The high school All-American became a collegiate All-American and then became an All-Pro with the Minnesota Vikings.
Bryant is considered one of the best corners in the history of the Vikings franchise and is one of just a handful of players to play in all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl appearances. Bryant made one of the most memorable plays in the history of the team when he returned a blocked field goal the length of the field in the NFC Championship Game to kickstart the game’s scoring.
When Bryant retired from football, he was in the top-10 all-time in career interceptions. He was almost elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame but never quite made it in, though, he was named one of the 50 greatest Vikings ever and was placed on the team’s 25th and 40th anniversary teams.