MN Vikings Pro Bowl Lineman Calls it a Career
The Minnesota Vikings have gone into offseason overdrive today, as Rob Brzezinski prepares tries to cut nearly $50 million from the roster, in order to get it salary cap compliant by Wednesday, March 11 at 3pm CT.
Over the past 48 hours, the Vikings have restructured multiple contracts, after last week, they let some high-cost veterans know they’ll ultimately be cut.
Ryan Kelly hangs up his cleats with Minnesota Vikings
Then this afternoon, 32-year-old former Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly announced that he will not be on the roster come March 11, either. Instead, after one season in a Vikings uniform that was largely ruined by recurring concussions, Kelly is retiring from football.
10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was. I was blessed to be around some of the greatest people this sport has to offer. I always wanted to leave each place better than how I found it and with that I can hang my hat. Forever grateful for my family and brothers! Cheers pic.twitter.com/LzliGJ2wOK
— Ryan Kelly (@ryan_kelly70) March 6, 2026
There has been uncertainty as to how Ryan Kelly’s career would move forward, after another year dealing with multiple concussions limited him to just 8 games.
Ryan Kelly, a former No. 18 overall draft pick, spent the first nine years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, before signing a two-year deal early in free agency last offseason that was worth a total of $18 million.
While this could have been the assumed outcome for months, Kelly’s departure will hurt the 2026 Vikings all the same. Despite his limited action, Ryan Kelly’s 82.2 PFF grade last season ranked 4th (out of 40) among NFL centers.
Kelly made four Pro Bowl’s over the course of his career. He was an exceptional talent, but this seems like the right move. He has a wife and children that want to experience his post playing career with him, and the extensive brain injury history could not be overlooked.
Ryan Kelly posted a longer version of his retirement message on IG. pic.twitter.com/VlUJ2De21D
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 6, 2026
MN Vikings need a new center
It’s not good news that the Minnesota Vikings will now be without Ryan Kelly in 2026. If there are silver linings, it’s that they already got a glimpse what that looked like last season.
Kevin O’Connell needed a different center for nine games, and he rotated both Michael Jurgens and Blake Brandel there. Both of those players are back for Minnesota and could be in-house options.
Kelly was set to carry a cap hit of $11.7 million this season. With his retirement, the dead cap hit of $3.36 million hits immediately, but it also saves the Vikings more than $8 million.
There are a multitude of ways that Minnesota could spend that money, but adding a quality center may be among them. Tyler Linderbaum is projected to be the top option available. Only Lloyd Cushenberry made more ($12.5 million) than the savings Kelly’s retirement creates for Minnesota among free agent centers.
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