Former Vikings’ Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs Really Was a Diva
In March 2020, the Minnesota Vikings traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. At the time, this was a very controversial trade amongst Vikings’ fans.
However, the first-round pick, the Minnesota Vikings received from the Bills, in this trade eventually lead to the selection of Justin Jefferson in April 2020. Although this trade ended up working out for the Vikings, the truth is finally coming out regarding Diggs and his rocky tenure here in Minnesota.
The Stefon “Diggs Experience”
Most Minnesota Vikings’ fans, and now Buffalo Bills’ fans, understand what Diggs can due to an organization. ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler gives us a glimpse of what the team had to navigate internally. The Vikings’ sources called it the “Diggs Experience”.
Coaches and scouts on the @Vikings staff during Stefon Diggs tenure often referred to his time here as the “Diggs Experience” – a roller coaster of on-field brilliance and off-field irritability that can elicit discomfort within the football building.
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 2, 2024
One #Vikings source, via… https://t.co/c6w96jGi2v pic.twitter.com/5I5wtIsLqe
Coaches and scouts on the Minnesota staff during Diggs’ tenure there often refer to the “Diggs experience,” a roller coaster of on-field brilliance and off-field irritability that can elicit discomfort within the football building.
After Minnesota drafted Diggs out of Maryland in 2015 — one of the notable fifth-round steals in modern NFL history — the team learned his competitive side could lead to frustration. The Vikings went to the playoffs three times during Diggs’ five years with the team, all under head coach (and noted Diggs fan) Mike Zimmer, and never finished with a losing record. But the very thing that made Diggs great — his belief that getting him the ball would help the team — was something Minnesota had to manage both on game day and throughout the week.
“He needs to have someone he can talk to, listening to his concerns, work through what was bothering him, recognizing him as a voice,” a Vikings source who directly observed Diggs’ tenure there said.
Multiple Vikings sources said that while the franchise considered Diggs’ desire to maximize his offensive impact to be mostly a positive, the team had to work to ensure it didn’t turn toxic within the building. Vikings brass spent significant time talking through issues with Diggs, realizing he just needed to vent sometimes.
Jeremy Fowler (ESPN)
It’s pretty mind-blowing how much baby-sitting the Minnesota Vikings’ staff had to do for Diggs at times. It sounds like the team had to go above and beyond constantly from ensuring this didn’t boil over into a toxic situation that can stain an organization.
Vikings coaches wouldn’t let Stefon Diggs sit near Kirk Cousins on the sideline
Not only was the Vikings’ staff constantly trying to keep Diggs in-check, they had controls in place on game days to give former quarterback Kirk Cousins peace on the sidelines.
Per multiple #Vikings sources, via @JFowlerESPN, “the team had to work to ensure [Stefon Diggs desire to maximize his offensive impact] didn’t turn toxic within the building” during his tenure in Minnesota 👀
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 2, 2024
At one point, “to give then-QB Kirk Cousins peace on the sideline… https://t.co/EJhMlUS6kv pic.twitter.com/KLfIpKaUjD
To give then-quarterback Kirk Cousins peace on the sideline during games, coaches once situated the Vikings receivers apart from the quarterbacks and closer to the defensive benches, an ex-Vikings source said.
“It can be a lot,” the source said. “He might throw his helmet. He will wear on your quarterback. But find me a premier receiver that’s not a diva. … And he works incredibly hard. That’s why coaches love him.”
Jeremy Fowler (ESPN)
Separating Cousins and Diggs on opposite benches on the sideline only helped so much. Cousins and Diggs were seen on camera getting into it at times several times over their tenures here in Minnesota.
Diggs to Cousins on the sideline: "Don't feel like you gotta force s— to me all right? Play your game!"
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) January 9, 2020
wHaT a DiVa pic.twitter.com/fW0ol8w6FG
So… why did Stefon Diggs want to leave Minnesota?
Over the years, it’s been widely speculated and rumored as to what was the main reason why Diggs wanted to leave Minnesota. Some of those rumors were because of former head coach Mike Zimmer, Cousins, and event the way the offense was structured by being a run-first team.
Despite these rumors, Diggs appeared on ‘The Shop‘ to confirm what the real reason why he wanted to leave Minnesota.
Former @Vikings WR Stefon Diggs reveals the truth on why he left Minnesota 👀
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 1, 2024
Diggs left because he didn’t want to be WR2 behind Adam Thielen.
“I love [Thielen] to death. I love seeing him have success, but for me, I knew I wasn’t going for it.”
🎥: NFL.Digest / IG pic.twitter.com/IqvjRxZn6d
“Damn. I need to take my own life into my own hands… I love [Thielen] to death. I love seeing him have success, but for me, I knew I wasn’t going for it.”
Stefon Diggs (The Shop)
In the video, it’s quite clear that the main reason Diggs wanted to leave Minnesota. He didn’t like being wide receiver no. 2 at times behind Adam Thielen. Who was also a dominant receiver during this time.
Related: Vikings vs Jets: Aaron Rodgers Says He’s Banged Up
Overall, Diggs had huge success here in Minnesota. He dominated games and gave us the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’. Moments that will be ingrained in the memory of Vikings’ fans for years to come. But one thing was for sure, behind closed doors Diggs was difficult to deal with for the Minnesota Vikings’ organization.
More About:Minnesota Vikings Rumors
You Might Like:
