Former Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph announces retirement after 12 seasons

Former long-time Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, via Peter King. Rudolph spent 12 seasons in the league but ultimately ended his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.

Although he’s retiring from playing, the former Viking plans to stay around football. He’s joining Peacock as a Big Ten analyst and he will also co-host a show on FOX Sports radio, slated for Sunday nights.

Rudolph played at Notre Dame from 2008-10 before heading to the Minnesota Vikings as the No. 43 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. During his time in South Bend, he totaled 90 receptions, 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns.

He played for the Vikings until 2021 when he headed to the New York Giants for one season. He then joined the Buccaneers after his release from the Giants.

In 12 seasons in the league, Rudolph accumulated 4,773 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns in regular season games. He earned Pro Bowl nods twice, in 2012, and again in 2017.

Vikings make Hockenson highest-paid tight end

The Minnesota Vikings and T.J. Hockenson have agreed to a deal that makes the former Iowa star the highest-paid tight end of all time. He inked for four years at $68.5 million, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

The $68.5 million comes out to $17.125 million per year in salary. It also includes $42.5 million in guaranteed money, which is also an all-time high for a tight end.

The new deal for Hockenson pushes him past New York Giants tight end Darren Waller who is receiving $17 million a year. Previously, the most guaranteed money in a deal for a tight end was $40 million, inked for George Kittle with the 49ers.

Travis Kelce, arguably the best tight end in the game right now thanks to his level of production, is on a four-year deal for $57.25 million, which he signed in 2020.

To give the former Hawkeye’s new deal some historical perspective, Rob Gronkowski‘s biggest deal with the New England Patriots was a six-year deal for $54 million in 2012.

Hockenson’s deal resets the market for the next group of tight ends coming up on their big paydays.

For the Vikings last season, the 6-foot-5 target posted 60 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns.

The Detroit Lions traded their former first-round draft pick to Minnesota in the 2022 season. In exchange for the tight end, the Lions received a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and third and fourth-round picks in 2024 as well.