Minnesotans in the NFL

Thielen approaching 100-game milestone

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen s 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.

PlayerPosCityFromToG
Games Played in NFL
1Larry FitzgeraldWRMinneapolis20042020256
2Terrell SuggsLBMinneapolis20032019244
3Rohn StarkPMinneapolis19821997233
4Matt BirkCSt. Paul19982012210
5Dave DalbyCAlexandria19721985205
6Keith FahnhorstTSt. Cloud19741987193
7Greg LarsonCMinneapolis19611973179
8Larry ColeDEClarkfield19681980176
9Steve NelsonLBFarmington19741987174
10Jim LeClair LBSt. Paul19721983158
11Jeff SiemonLBRochester19721982156
12John FinaTRochester19922002155
13Gino CappellettiFLKeewatin19601970153
14Jim LangerCLittle Falls19701981151
15Steve HeidenTERushford19992009148
16Dave CasperTEBemidji19741984147
17Milt Sunde GMinneapolis19641974147
18Errol MannKBreckenridge19681978137
19Ramon HumberMLBBrooklyn Park20092018136
20Chip LohmillerKWoodbury19881996135
21Barry BennettDTSt. Paul19781988132
22Jon BorchardtGMinneapolis19791987130
23Corbin LacinaGMankato19942003129
24Les Josephson RBMinneota19641974129
25Marcus SherelsDBRochester20102019128
26Bob WetoskaTMinneapolis19601969128
27Steve Martin DTSt. Paul19962004127
28Matt HerkenhoffTMelrose19761985125
29Steve ZabelLBMinneapolis19701979124
30Matt SpaethTESt. Michael20072015123
31Ben HamiltonGMinneapolis20022010118
32James LaurinaitisLBHamel20092016117
33Craig DahlDBMankato20072015117
34Derek RackleyTEApple Valley20002007116
35Ryan HarrisTMinneapolis20072016114
36Steve KinerLBSandstone19701978114
37Adam GoldbergGEdina20042011112
38Eric DeckerWRCold Spring20102017111
39Jim Carter LBSt. Paul19701978106
40Todd KalisGStillwater19881995103
41Michael Floyd WRSt. Paul20122018102
42Rod SmithDBSt. Paul19921998102
43Tom ComptonTRosemount20122020100
44Jacky LeeQBMinneapolis19601969100