CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 01: Marcus Sherels #35 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Brandon Watts #58 after scoring a touchdown on a 65 yard punt return against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Soldier Field on November 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings had numerous players on their roster over the years, and now two of them are making the jump to the Alliance of American Football.

The Alliance of American Football already has some great ties to the Minnesota Vikings including investors coming from the franchise and two coaches who spent time on the team’s staff over the years.

However, a recent press release from the upcoming organization revealed that the new league will also feature some former players who wore purple and gold, with one of them actually finding time in regular-season contests.

Joining the Alliance team in Atlanta, linebacker Brandon Watts was a seventh-round draft pick of Minnesota in the 2014 NFL Draft. Selected with the 223rd overall selection out of Georgia Tech, Watts stuck with the team until September 3, 2016, when he was part of the team’s final roster cuts.

In 9 games played for the Vikings, Watts ended his time in the NFL with 3 tackles and one assist. He also spent some time with the Miami Dolphins, but never found action on the field during his time there.

More recently, the Minnesota Vikings had long snapper Nick Dooley from the University of Texas – El Paso on their roster. Dooley filled in for Kevin McDermott during the preseason and part of training camp this year when McDermott was injured and stuck with the team through, sticking with Minnesota from March 21, 2018 until he was waived on May 7, 2018.

It is likely that fans will see more players who were formerly members of the Minnesota Vikings land on the rosters of the Alliance of American Football as the league and its teams continue to take shape.

It’s it is fun for fans of the Minnesota Vikings who are already a little interested in the Alliance of American Football to have some more reasons to tune in and watch this new brand of football that will kick off on February 9, 2019, giving sports fans more football after the NFL season comes to an end..