The Vikings’ Blocking Bully Talks “Chip” He Still Has and the “Aftermath” of Facing Him
Earlier in the offseason, the Vikings extended Josh Oliver for three more years for a total of $23.25 million. The main part of his job description? Move around other NFL players. The Vikings’ blocking bully is, at worst, among the best at what he does (with many believing he is the best).
Before the practice on Monday night, Mr. Oliver offered a few thoughts on his role within the Vikings’ offense. I got the chance to ask him about how his body is feeling, whether there is still some room to produce more as a pass catcher, and then his mindset when it comes to blocking.
Josh Oliver: The Vikings’ Blocking Bully
Previously, Wes Phillips has offered some quick quips about his TE2.
The offensive coordinator thinks that he has the league’s best blocker at tight end. He even thinks that Oliver offers an intimidation factor, prompting Phillips to offer the tongue-in-cheek comment that the pass catcher should be the first one off the bus during road games.
Essentially, make sure that Oliver is the first player who gets seen by the opponent. Doing so is somewhat of a mind game, a way of putting a fright into the other team before the game gets going.
Indeed, Oliver is a uniquely-gifted blocker, someone who defies what’s normal in football. Spend enough time around the football field and one will hear the saying that an edge rusher should never let a tight end block him.
Go ahead and check out what Jonathan Greenard did to a tight end last season who wasn’t ready for the powerful pass rusher:
No doubt, Greenard won that rep. Quite easily, in fact. The Vikings’ EDGE1 used his blocker as a speed bump rather than a stop sign, backing the tight end far into the backfield before getting to C.J. Stroud for a sack.
I asked Josh Oliver about his thoughts on the idea that a defensive end should never allow a tight end to win the block. His thoughts didn’t disappoint: “Yeah, I think that’s just like the chip on your shoulder that I continue to have. People are always going to say this and that, but I mean if you go out and you got to put on pads and line up in front of me. The aftermath is the aftermath.”
Folks, that’s a tough as nails quote. Sure, there’s a football saying about defensive ends and tight ends, but Oliver understands that those are just words. Put on the pads and he’ll let edge rushers learn about the “aftermath” of doing battle with him.
Physically, Josh Oliver is sitting in a pretty good spot, noting some bumps and bruises but nothing appears to be too major: “It’s good, I mean we’re just grinding, going through training camp. You get the usual football soreness, but body’s good.”
The update is a good thing. T.J. Hockenson has stepped away due to a minor injury and Gavin Bartholomew continues to be out, as well. Going into camp, that was the clear-cut TE1 and probable TE3 (Ben Yurosek is changing the conversation), so Oliver’s availability is indeed a good thing.
When it comes to the passing game, Oliver thinks he’s capable of helping as a pass catcher but is quite happy to do what the offense requires of him. The tight end said that he wants “to be able do whatever” is needed, noting that “if that’s catching some balls, I’ll catch some balls.”
Last season, Josh Oliver had 22 catches for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns. All of those individual stat categories represent either new career highs or tie a previous career high. So, too, was his 11.7 yards-per-reception average the most explosive of his career. Modest, all things considered, but to be expected given what he’s asked to do.
On a weekly basis, Josh Oliver gets tasked with being his rugged, brawny self. Minnesota puts him into matchups that tight ends don’t normally win, doing so with the understanding that their TE2 is different from most tights ends in the NFL.
The veteran’s cap charge is coming in at $4.264 million in 2025. He’s under contract for the next four seasons.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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