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- Mar 19, 2019
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Birk, Hutchinson among Pro Football Hall of Fame 2020 nominees
Two former offensive linemen who combined for 17 seasons with the Vikings are among NFL Legends in consideration for the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Matt Birk (1998-2008) and Steve Hutchinson (2006-11) were included in a list of 122 modern-era nominees released Thursday. Each also played for other teams but spent the bulk of their careers in Minnesota.
Hutchinson originally was drafted 17th overall by the Seahawks in 2001. He received three Pro Bowl nods and was named All Pro two twice during his time in Seattle. After joining the Vikings, he extended the Pro Bowl streak to seven seasons and received three more All-Pro designations.
The Vikings selected Birk in the sixth round (173rd overall) in 1998. He became a full-time starter in 2000 and went on to make six Pro Bowl rosters (2000-01; 2003-04; 2006-07) during his time with his home-state team.
Other names among the 122 nominees will also be familiar for Vikings fans, including quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Cunningham only played three of his 16 NFL seasons with Minnesota, but in 1998 he led the Vikings to its historic 15-1 season with the help of rookie phenom receiver Randy Moss.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb also is a nominee for the 2020 Hall of Fame class. McNabb played just six games for the Vikings in 2011 after spending 11 seasons in Philadelphia and the 2010 campaign in Washington.
Former Vikings kickers Gary Anderson and Ryan Longwell also are on the list.
According to the release from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the modern-era players list will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and to 15 finalists in early January.