Ex-Vikings Linebacker Announces Retirement
For the better part of the last decade, the Minnesota Vikings primarily featured two linebackers: Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks. The former high draft picks were cornerstones in Mike Zimmer’s defense, and Kendricks stuck around for the season under Ed Donatell. His running mate in year one post-Barr? Jordan Hicks.
Ex-Vikings Linebacker Announces Retirement
Hicks is now done with the NFL, he announced Friday in an Instagram post.
He noted, “After 23 years of playing football, I’m officially retiring from the NFL. Football has given me more than I could have ever imagined. Purpose, discipline, brotherhood, and a platform to impact others. But most importantly it showed me who I am outside the game.”
Hicks, now 33 years old, attended the University of Texas and was a third-round pick in 2015. The Philadelphia Eagles were his first career step. Starting out as the backup inside linebacker, his role expanded as his rookie season progressed, but a torn pec sidelined him for about half the season.
In year two, he was finally healthy, but the bad injury luck returned in 2017, his third year, when a torn Achilles forced him to miss the Super Bowl run (including the playoff victory over a certain purple squad). After another season with the Eagles, Hicks departed in free agency of 2019 and headed to Arizona.
Despite the early injury struggles in Philly, he played in every game during his three-year run with the Cardinals. The Vikings then added him in the 2022 offseason. An underwhelming first season was followed by a surprisingly good year under Brian Flores in 2023. Some folks were even scared to lose him in free agency. Blake Cashman ultimately replaced him, who was fantastic.
Hicks spent 2024 in Cleveland. He was still under contract with the Browns, who now need to replace another linebacker. They had already ruled out promising defender Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah for the upcoming season, as his neck injury put his career in jeopardy.
Ironically, Hicks’ Vikings teammate, Kendricks, is still on the free-agent market and could be an option for Cleveland and head coach Kevin Stefanski, another person with a lengthy Vikings history. If they don’t go that route, it’ll be a young linebacker room.
Cory Kinnan of Browns Wire wrote: “The Browns drafted Carson Schwesinger with the first pick in the second round this past spring. It now becomes a foregone conclusion that Schwesinger will be written in with Sharpie into the starting lineup. Mohamoud Diabate got his taste of the starting lineup a year ago, and now it looks likely that he will be penciled in next to Schwesinger entering the 2025 season.”
The Browns are on the Vikings’ radar this year, as the two clubs face each other in London’s Week 5 contest in October.
Hicks continued, “I leave this chapter with deep gratitude for every lesson, challenge, and victory. I’m proud of what I accomplished on the field, but even more proud of the man I’ve become because of it. To my teammates, coaches, fans, and most importantly my family.. thank you for your unwavering support throughout this journey. I’m looking forward to this next season of life and all that it brings. I walk away with peace knowing I gave football all I had, and that the best is yet to come.”
In ten seasons, Hicks played in 134 games (131 starts). His only three games coming off the bench took place in his rookie season. Hicks registered 952 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 51 tackles for loss, and 13 interceptions.
The 33-year-old wore the Vikings uniform 30 times in his career.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.