It’s rare in this era of free agency to see one player spend his entire career with the same team.
Especially when that career lasts 13 years.
Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser confirmed he’s retiring at the end of the season after a long run with the Vikings. Minnesota drafted Kleinsasser in the second round in 1999.
He spent the early part of his career as a fullback, and then developed into one of the best blocking tight ends in football.
“I’m walking away with two legs that work great and my head is still intact, so I think I feel good about leaving the game right now and just kind of moving on,” Kleinsasser told Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
It’s a shame Kleinsasser has to go out on such a losing note. He joined the franchise one year after Minnesota’s 15-1 season, and now leaves with the Vikings in contention for the No. 1 overall draft pick.
Kleinsasser never made a Pro Bowl, but he’s one of the players that helped define a generation (or two) of Vikings football.