49ers Sign Former MN Vikings Defender for Playoff Run

The Minnesota Vikings finished up their season with a 9-8 record after knocking off the Green Bay Packers in week 18.

Unfortunately, their winning record was all for not, being the Vikings were knocked out of the playoffs way back in week 15. So now, just like their fans, Minnesota Vikings players and coaches will watch the 2025-26 NFL Playoffs from their couch.

There are plenty of former Vikings players who will be featured over the next month, when NFL games matter most. And on Wednesday afternoon, another franchise great was added to that list.

Eric Kendricks signed off San Francisco practice squad

Erik Kendricks has played in just three games for the San Francisco 49ers this season, spending most of his time with the Niners, working on their practice squad.

But after placing Tatum Bethune on injured reserve, 6-seed San Francisco is calling up the 11-year veteran linebacker before their Wild Card matchup this weekend vs 3-seed Philadelphia.

The #49ers have signed LB Eric Kendricks from the practice squad to the active roster and placed LB Tatum Bethune on IR.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2026

Kendricks has six total tackles in 46 defensive snaps this season, along with 39 snaps on special teams. Last year, Kendricks played 15 games — totaling 138 tackles and 3 sacks — for his former head coach in Minnesota, Mike Zimmer, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys

This will be the seventh playoff game of Kendricks’ career, and first since 2023. The 49ers missed out on the NFC’s number one seed in week 18, after falling to Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks, who took the conference crown, instead.