Popular Viking Formally Says Goodbye
It seems to have occurred about three times this offseason, but this time, Najee Thompson’s goodbye is evidently for good.
One Vikings defender and special teamer said sayonara once and for all this weekend and appears gone for good.
The Minnesota Vikings employed Thompson as a sweet special teams asset in 2023, but injuries ruined his sophomore season, and for some reason, he won’t return to the purple team this year.
Thompson formally said goodbye on Instagram this weekend. It’s a done deal for now on his purple and gold tenure.
Najee Thompson Says Farewell
Thompson, 24, also said goodbye to Minnesotans on X, known to most as Twitter, in April, right before the draft. Yet, this weekend, it must’ve become more concrete for Thompson, as Instagram was the forum for another farewell.
He wrote, “It’s surreal. Thank you all for making the first part of my dream something. I’ll never forget and very grateful to have the opportunity here. But so long, Minnesota. Officially outta here and to the cold weather you will be the only thing not missed but on to new beginnings.”
“Once again thank you to one of the best fan bases you can ask for and to everyone I’ve met along the way was a pleasure. Looking forward to this new journey.”
A Release in April
In April, NBS Sports‘ Josh Alper remarked on Thompson’s exit, “The Vikings trimmed their roster a bit on Wednesday. They announced that they have waived defensive back Najee Thompson. The move came with a failed physical designation. Thompson signed with the Vikings after going undrafted in 2023 and played in 15 games for the team during his rookie season.”
“He spent last season on their injured reserve list. Almost all of Thompson’s playing time as a rookie came on special teams. He recorded seven tackles and a fumble recovery in that action. The Vikings also waived offensive lineman Trevor Reid this week and both moves free up roster space for draft picks and rookie free agents to join the team in the coming days.”
Most Vikings fans considered that event Thompson’s goodbye, but something triggered him to bid adieu again and express more gratitude. The man must’ve really loved Minnesota.
Thompson Replacements for 2025?
Last year, wide receiver Trent Sherfield assumed a prominent special teams role with Thompson injured. Sherfield, though, split in March via free agency and now works for the Denver Broncos.
Sans Thompson and Sherfield, the Vikings could turn to Tavierre Thomas for special teams duty, a cornerback with such experience over the last few seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans.
Wide receiver Tim Jones is in the mix, as well, so Thomas and Jones should be classified as Thompson-like additions from a busy offseason.
Reunion with Vikings Down the Road Wouldn’t Be Too Strange
Onlookers shouldn’t rule out a Thompson reunion at a later date. He loved the Vikings, and for a while, the Vikings loved him.
This offseason, Minnesota reunited with linebacker Eric Wilson, and for example, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for running back Cam Akers in back-to-back seasons, 2023 and 2024.
Thompson is the type of guy who might eventually return; it’s how Minnesota does business.
Janik Eckardt on Najee Thompson
Our own Janik Eckardt wrote about Thompson in April: “The failed physical is easy to explain. Thompson suffered a torn PCL in the 2023 season and finished the campaign on the field. In the following offseason, he opted against surgery, which ultimately cost him the entire 2024 season, because it turned out he had to have that surgery performed after all.”
“In 2023, he arrived as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern and showed enough talent on special teams to make the 53-man roster. Thompson played in 15 games, recorded seven tackles, and made some highlight plays. The NFL can be a harsh business, and waiving a rehabbing player who once contributed is one of those instances. Thompson is 24 years old and needs to convince another team to give him a roster spot once his rehab is completed.”
Unless Thompson’s injury is wickedly severe, he should find new employment sometime this summer as his special teams toolkit — the one Vikings fans fell in love with in 2023 — would normally be coveted.
Thompson will turn 25 in one month.
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