Legendary Vikings TE Set to Become an Announcer
Josh Frey
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When discussing Minnesota Vikings football of the 2010s, one of the first names that has to come up is tight end Kyle Rudolph. The Notre Dame product was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he spent each of his first 10 NFL seasons in Minnesota.
In total, Rudolph played 140 regular season games for the Vikings, including 132 starts, and he caught 453 passes for 4488 yards and 48 TDs. Among tight ends in Vikings history, he ranks second in receptions and receiving yards, trailing only Steve Jordan, and has more touchdowns than anyone at the position.
Now, the legendary Vikings TE seems set to take on the next chapter of his life after bouncing around the NFL for two seasons in 2021 and 2022. Rudolph is going to be announcing games for NBC this upcoming season as part of the Big Ten team. He actually had the chance to announce Notre Dame’s spring game this April, and apparently, his performance in the booth was impressive enough for NBC to give him a larger role this fall.
Rudolph told The Athletic that his unique relationship with his alma mater gave him this opportunity: “One-hundred percent. It was without question the reason why,” the tight end explained, “I’m an anomaly, played 12 years in the NFL before starting my next chapter, but Notre Dame was still there opening doors and giving me opportunities.”
After his career with the Vikings, Rudolph played the 2021 season with the New York Giants. He appeared 16 games for the franchise and made 13 starts, but he remained a very limited part of their offense. He caught 26 passes for 257 yards and a single touchdown. The totals were among the lowest of his career since his rookie season.
Then, 2022 saw Rudolph join Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he did not start a single game and caught just three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. The writing seemed to be on the wall that the tight end’s playing career was coming to an end, and as a result, he now moves into the booth.
Given all the experiences that Rudolph had on the NFL field, including six playoff starts and a game-winning touchdown in the 2019 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, he should have plenty to offer as an announcer in this next chapter.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.