‘Once a Viking, always a Viking’: A 29-year-old linebacker starts the next chapter

Danielle Hunter expressed that he will always cherish the moment when the Minnesota Vikings called his name during the 2015 NFL draft.

In what marks the end of an era for Minnesota, Hunter has agreed to a two-year, $49 million deal with the Houston Texans after spending the first eight years of his NFL career with the Vikings. His departure means that he will no longer be a cornerstone of the Vikings’ defense.

On Thursday, Hunter shared a heartfelt statement on social media, expressing his gratitude to former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who drafted him, the organization, owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, current coach Kevin O’Connell, current GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team’s staff, and others.

“To Purple Nation, the city of Minneapolis, and to Vikings fans everywhere — I am grateful for your unwavering support and commitment over the past nine years,” Hunter said in his statement.

“And last but certainly not least, to all of my teammates and coaches: I appreciate you all more than you know. We have created some incredible moments and memories together that I will never forget! I will deeply miss this organization and fan base.

“Once a Viking, always a Viking! Skol!”

Hunter will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the Vikings’ top pass rushers and defensive players in franchise history. His 87.5 sacks in Minnesota rank third all-time in team history. Over his eight-year career, Hunter has also amassed 461 tackles, 11 forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.

Hunter played a crucial role in the Vikings’ top-ranked NFL defense in 2017. As a premier pass rusher, he was instrumental in the team’s strong defensive performance during the tenure of former coach Mike Zimmer, consistently making a significant impact.

The Wilfs released a joint statement following Hunter’s departure, recognizing the significant impact he had during his time with the organization.

“Danielle had one of the most accomplished careers in the history of the Minnesota Vikings,” they said in the statement. “His physical presence and aggressive style of play helped our defense rank near the top of the NFL for several years.

His lead-by-example, humble approach made it easy for teammates to select him as a captain, for fans to cheer for him, and for the community to embrace him as a Minnesotan. We sincerely wish Danielle and his entire family the best moving forward.”