Minnesota Vikings Legend Officially Retiring
When the Minnesota Vikings knocked off the Green Bay Packers in Week 18 this season, more took place than them simply finishing 9-8. Kevin O’Connell’s team experienced a rocky year, but besting a rival and going out with some good vibes just felt right.
C.J. Ham was the star of the show that weekend, and it appeared that his future had been made up. Finding paydirt was a nice way to put a stamp on an otherwise impressive career, and now he has made it official.
CJ Ham retiring from Minnesota Vikings
A native of Duluth, Minnesota, C.J. Ham went undrafted out of Division II Augustana. He made the team in 2017 and worked his way up as a special teams contributor. Now 32 years old, and 141 games later, he’s calling it a career.
Congrats on an amazing career, CJ! We couldn’t be more proud of you.
IFA
While many teams don’t use a traditional fullback anymore, the Minnesota Vikings continued to roll him out for nine seasons. Ham made a pair of Pro Bowls and instantly became a fan favorite as a homegrown NFLer.
Operating almost exclusively as a blocker, Ham ran for just 119 yards over the course of his career. His six career touchdowns included one that was scored during the final game of his career.
Multiple play-callers utilized Ham in different ways as well. He proved adequate as a pass catcher, hauling in 681 yards during his career. A well-liked and respected teammate, Ham consistently donned the “C” as a team captain.
A kid from Duluth, going to a Division II school, and turning out a nine-year career while making nearly $20 million is quite the tale of the tape. It should be expected that Ham will eventually make the Vikings Ring of Honor, and it’s likely he’d be joining fellow Minnesotan Adam Thielen there as well.
Now the waiting game really begins. Harrison Smith has been contemplating retirement for the last few seasons, but the Minnesota Vikings still may not be ready for him to be done quite yet.
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