Paul Krause All-Time Interception Leader
The Viking who changed the safety position forever while owning the unbreakable career interception record.
Paul Krause holds the NFL's all-time interception record, a total that has stood unbeaten since his retirement in 1979. Selected to six Pro Bowls during a career spent exclusively with the Minnesota Vikings from 1962 to 1979, he transformed how safety play is viewed through his range, smarts, and instinct for the ball fans still talk about today.
- Role
- Safety (Strong Safety)
- Team
- Minnesota Vikings
- Career Span
- 1962–1979
- Pro Bowl Selections
- 6
- Hall of Fame Year
- 1998
- Record Held
- Most Career Interceptions (NFL)
- Total NFL Interceptions
- 81
Lore & Background
Beyond the statistics, Krause is remembered for his sportsmanship and leadership, earning him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He was one of the few players to spend an entire career with a single franchise during the free agency era that followed his retirement. His jersey number, though not officially retired by the team, is synonymous with excellence at the safety position, and his record serves as a benchmark for every defensive back who steps onto the gridiron in Minnesota.
In Their Own Story
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the frozen turf of Metropolitan Stadium, the breath of the players visible in the biting Minnesota air. Paul Krause adjusts his helmet, scanning the formation with eyes that have seen decades of plays unfold. As the quarterback drops back under pressure, a desperate spiral arcs high toward the end zone. Time seems to slow as Krause tracks the ball's trajectory, his instincts honed by thousands of repetitions. He breaks free from coverage, leaps with surprising grace in heavy pads, and snatches the leather sphere out of the sky just before it hits the ground, sealing another chapter in a legendary career.
Reader's Guide
Paul Krause set the standard for defensive longevity early in his tenure, consistently recording interceptions throughout the 1960s that placed him among the league leaders annually. His record-breaking journey was not defined by a single game but by an accumulation of excellence over 18 seasons. By the mid-1970s, Krause had surpassed previous records to become the all-time leader in NFL interceptions. He achieved this milestone during a season where he continued to dominate despite being well into his thirties, proving that experience could overcome physical decline. His final interception, bringing the total to 81, came in a game against the Seattle Seahawks in 1979. Krause retired immediately after that season, leaving the record untouched for over forty years. No player since has come close to matching his career total, solidifying his status as the greatest ball-hawker in football history and the ultimate Viking defender.
Did You Know?
- Paul Krause holds the NFL record for most career interceptions with 81, a mark that stood unchallenged until 2024 when he was finally surpassed by Rod Woodson's successor in longevity records, though Krause remains the s
- He is one of only two players to have played his entire NFL career with a single franchise while also being selected to six Pro Bowls.
- Krause was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 on his first ballot of eligibility.