EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings had a pair of players named as Second-Team All-Pro selections by the Associated Press on Friday.
Danielle Hunter was a Second-Team honoree after the defensive end recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2018.
Hunter, who was tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks with 14.5, earned his first All-Pro honor following his fourth NFL season. The 24-year-old defensive end led the Vikings in sacks for the second time in his career (12.5 in 2016).The 2018 season was being his second season as a full-time starter. Hunter earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 3.5 sack, one defensive touchdown (32-yard fumble return) performance versus Detroit in Week 9. The Louisiana State product was voted into the Pro Bowl, the first of his career. For 2018, Hunter posted 72 tackles (51 solo), 21 tackles for loss (second most in NFL) and 19 quarterback hurries while starting all 16 games for the Mike Zimmer-led Vikings.
Harrison Smith was also a Second-Team selection. The safety tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.
Smith, the two-time All-Pro, finished the 2018 season with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, nine tackles for loss (tied for first in NFL by a DB), 3.0 sacks (tied for third in NFL by a DB) and 84 tackles (67 solo). The four-time Pro Bowler became the first player to record three interceptions and 3.0 sacks in a single season since Landon Collins and Ryan Shazier in 2016. Smith was tied for the most interceptions on the Vikings and finished as the second leading tackler. The former Notre Dame standout is the first Vikings safety to be named AP All-Pro in back-to-back seasons since Joey Browner did so in 1987-88.
The All-Pro teams are voted upon by 50 media members.
Both Hunter and Smith were also selected to the Pro Bowl for the Vikings.
VIKINGS NAMED AP FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO UNDER MIKE ZIMMER
Adrian Peterson, RB 2015
Cordarrelle Patterson, KR 2016
Xavier Rhodes, CB 2017
Harrison Smith, S 2017
VIKINGS NAMED AP SECOND TEAM ALL-PRO UNDER MIKE ZIMMER
Cordarrelle Patterson, KR 2015
Everson Griffen, DE 2017
Xavier Rhodes, DB 2017
Adam Thielen, WR 2017
Danielle Hunter, DE 2018
Harrison Smith, S 2018
