Veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph is leaving the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings have confirmed they are releasing Rudolph, who has been with the team his entire NFL career.
The Vikings drafted him 43rd overall in the 2011 NFL draft, the first tight end to be selected in that draft.
He will depart the Vikings the 10th all-time for Vikings in receptions and receiving touchdowns, and 10th in receiving yards.
The Vikings have recently beefed up their tight end corps with Irv Smith Jr., who increasingly grew into the role in 2020.
Rudolph bid farewell with a goodbye message to Minnesota on The Players Tribune.
“Every season I played here, every game I played here — you all believed. Whether we were 3–13, or 13–3, or any record in between. Whether we won big or lost big or won a thriller or lost a heartbreaker,” he said.
“There’s no bitterness in Minnesota. There’s no cynicism. There’s no ‘Super Bowl curse.’ There’s always just been hope.
“You’ve never wavered in believing in what this team is about.
“And I want to thank you all for that, because it’s rubbed off on me in so many ways. It’s rubbed off on my life in ways that I don’t think I’ve even fully realized yet. I think being a part of this culture over the last 10 years….. it’s made me grow into a better football player — but also a better father, and a better husband, and a better man.”
