It didn’t last long, not long at all.
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Ben Ellefson retired last week and reportedly joined his old team’s coaching staff this week.
Former Viking hop on Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff
ESPN: Kevin Seifert tweeted Tuesday, Retired Ben Ellefson will move into what Kevin O’Connell called a “hybrid” role with the Vikings. Some coaching, maybe scouting, maybe player involvement. Will end with training camp and run through 2023.
The task sounds extremely exciting for the young retiree, who just a week ago had no idea what his post-football life would hold. Ellefson announced his retirement on social media five days ago, “Thank you for football, for the people you brought into my life, and for the opportunities you gave me to fulfill my dreams to the fullest. I’ve been blessed along the way to have people who believed in me, which drowned out those who doubted.”
Ellefson was a member of the Vikings in 2021 and 2022, playing in nine games and making frequent appearances on special teams as well as some offensive plays at times.
“So thank you, fellow believers, for the chances you’ve taken on me, helping and supporting me to give this game my all and reach my full potential. The list is long and I am lucky. Everyone’s story is different, and I’m proud to say that I gave football everything I had,” Ellefson wrote.
Ellefson joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted commodity in 2020.
“Injuries are a part of the game and while they are a big reason for me to move on, I am fortunate to be in a place where I can still walk away from the game as a player ready to deal with whatever comes my way. life,” Ellefson concluded last week in retirement.
Now he’s going to be a coach or a scout or something.
Ellefson hit the Vikings’ injured reserve twice last season with a groin injury and likely has something left in the 2023 offseason. He tallied 4 catches for 36 yards over three seasons with 257 offensive snaps between the Jaguars and Vikings.
Ellefson is only 26 years old and would likely be on the Vikings roster as a TE3 in 2023 if injuries hadn’t derailed his playing career.
The Vikings’ mandatory minicamp starts in six days, and Ellefson is likely to participate.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNow:. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sauh and: Sal Spice:. His Viking obsession dates back to 1996. Mentioned guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, Basset Hounds and The Doors (band).
All statistics are provided Pro Football Reference / Stathead:; All contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.