The Minnesota Vikings were announced on Wednesday evening as the 2024 Clio Sports "Team of the Year" at the Clio Sports Awards Ceremony held at the Hard Rock Hotel in the heart of New York City.
It's a fitting acknowledgment for the one-of-one atmosphere that's appreciated at Vikings home games from the moment feet graze the terrace outside of U.S. Bank Stadium until they return there 3.5 hours later.
"Of The Year" winners possess the most points earned for work submitted across all mediums, which is a testament to the club's creativity and execution of developing an immersive environment for NFL fans.
A couple of weeks ago, the Vikings were awarded Clio Sports Gold in two game-day experience categories (Pregame and Overall End to End) and Clio Sports Silver in two others (Use of Lighting and Use of Music/Sound) in recognition of commitment to innovation and excellence in sports marketing.
"To be recognized at this level, amongst the top brands across sports marketing, is very meaningful to our organization and to those who put so much energy into growing and connecting with our fans," Vikings Vice President of Content and Production Bryan Harper said Nov. 20 after the initial honors.
Harper was accompanied by Vikings Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Martin Nance and Senior Manager, Game and Event Creative Arthur Kuh on stage Wednesday to collect the distinction.
Recent winners of the Clio Sports Team of the Year award include Borussia Dortmund (2023), Los Angeles Rams (2022 and 2021) and Philadelphia 76ers (2020). The Clio Sports program was founded in 2014.
More opps for Moreau?
Stephon Gilmore has played an essential part in Minnesota's 10-2 start.
But there's another veteran cornerback who might be tasked with more as the Vikings try to acquire win No. 11.
Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune wrote Wednesday how Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores didn't flinch after Gilmore pulled up with a hamstring injury Sunday. He trusted in Fabian Moreau:
Flores stuck with a man-to-man heavy game plan that eschewed the Vikings typical zones for a physical, tiring brand of coverage that asked their defensive backs to sprint with receivers. The plan made Moreau, who was targeted on a team-high 21% of his coverage snaps, an easier mark for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
"I hadn't played since the preseason," Moreau said Wednesday. "So, coming in and doing my assignment, I feel I played well. Of course, there's a couple plays I'd like back like any game."
The underbellies of social media were quick to criticize Moreau's Week 13 performance. He was penalized twice for defensive pass interference and allowed a 15-yard touchdown catch to Arizona rookie Marvin Harrison, Jr. But Flores and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell emphasized Moreau played well.
The tape confirms it, too.
On Moreau's first snap of the game, with 51 seconds left in the first half, Murray clued in on Gilmore's exit and fixated his eyes on the 30-year-old cornerback – except his coverage of Zay Jones on a deep pattern was textbook; Murray pitter-pattered in the pocket momentarily and was forced to scramble.
Moreau was similarly effective defending his first two targets, both fade routes to Harrison inside Minnesota's 25-yard line. Moreau was in such a strong position on the first, running stride-for-stride with the 22-year-old son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer and extending his arm to interfere with Harrison's vision at the goal line that Murray tried for a back-shoulder throw on the second, and was denied, again.
Krammer hinted at the potential of Moreau assuming an even larger role against Atlanta.
If Gilmore can't play, the Vikings will lean more on cornerback Shaq Griffin, who had the game-sealing interception against Arizona, in a pairing with Byron Murphy, Jr. But the Vikings often deploy five- and six-defensive back packages that would likely see Moreau on the field against Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The eight-year veteran's high football I.Q. makes him a better-than-serviceable option.
"If he wants to coach down the road, he can certainly do that," Flores said. "He's very smart, understands the game … I feel like with the attrition in this league, you knew at some point we were going to need him, and he was ready to go."
This isn't Moreau's first rodeo. He has started 58 games as a pro for five different teams. In 2019, he recorded three interceptions, and in 2022 he started for the New York Giants opposite Adoree' Jackson in the playoffs, even beating the Vikings on what is now his home turf. Yeah, Moreau's been here before.
That playoff game was brought up jokingly when Moreau agreed to sign with the Vikings on July 31. But Moreau knew O'Connell before that game. They spent two years together in Washington, where Moreau was drafted in the third round in 2017 out of UCLA. Moreau said O'Connell is the reason he agreed to come to Minnesota in the first place.
"We just were always cool with each other," Moreau said. "He'd always bounce a lot of questions off of me back then. So, when he called, I already knew I wanted to play for him."
Read Krammer's spotlight of Moreau here.
