Fan Favorite Vikings Pass Rusher Wants Back In

Safe to say that Everson Griffen was a fan favorite. Does the Vikings pass rusher still have what it takes to play in the NFL? Frankly, probably not, but he’s still holding out some hope.

Pro Football Talk was among the spots to discuss the news. Josh Alper relays the word, doing so after Griffen chatted with veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson. Griffen’s desire: “‘I’ve burnt bridges, but I feel like that’s reparable. I’m willing to do anything to mend them. I’m saying clear, you don’t have to worry about me going back to using again.’”

Vikings Pass Rusher Wants Another Shot

Griffen is such a gregarious, outgoing personality that those around the Minnesota Vikings have forgiven several misdeeds. At times, the pass rusher has been his own worst enemy, in no small part due to battling some personal demons. I, for one, wish him nothing but the best even while acknowledging that he has made some mistakes.

As fate would have it, the Vikings could use some help at pass rusher. The Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner twosome promises to be at least good. Quite possibly, those two will become great in 2026. What sort of effort gets offered beyond those two, however, remains to be seen. Options such as Eric Wilson (Jake Golday?), Ty Ingram-Dawkins, and Bo Richter look like the players most likely to soak up snaps. All come with questions, quibbles, and/or concerns.

Seeing Griffen get a shot for the 2026 Vikings would nevertheless qualify as a major surprise.

Chosen at No. 100 in the 2010 NFL Draft, Everson Griffen would begin slow before exploding. His burst coming out of his stance was legendary, especially when allowed to setup his spin move. He put more than his fair share of offensive tackles in the spin cycle. Poetry in shoulder pads.

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Perhaps his most formidable season arrived in 2017. Quite possibly, that was the season when a lot of Vikings had their best years: Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith, and so on. Griffen’s final stats show 45 tackles, 13 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. He was honored with a well-earned AP2 spot and trip to the Pro Bowl.

Griffen would eventually move on from the Vikings. He put in work with Detroit and Dallas before coming back to the Twin Cities in 2021.

Very few have been able to match Everson Griffen’s passion for the game and his emotional leadership. Nobody ever questioned if he cared about ball and his teammates. Nobody ever questioned whether he enjoyed sacking the quarterback. Like Alex Ovechkin scoring a goal, Griffen loved to celebrate after wrangling a passer.

Again, though, the reality: the Minnesota Vikings will not be signing Everson Griffen.

Vikings rookies arrived at TCO Performance Center yesterday. Tomorrow, the rest of the team will report to Eagan. We’re therefore just days away from seeing purple football get rolling again. After quarterback, the edge rusher competition is perhaps the most fascinating story in the Twin Cities.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.