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MN Vikings Pro Bowl Lineman Calls it a Career
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- MN Vikings Pro Bowl Lineman Calls it a Career
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
For the past handful of days the Minnesota Vikings have been working to get their roster salary cap compliant. March 11 at 3pm CT is the deadline, and they began the exercise nearly $50 million over the cap .
They have restructured contracts and let other veterans know they would ultimately be cut. What was uncertain was how the Ryan Kelly situation was going to play out.
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Signed last offseason as a free agent, the former Pro Bowl center was expected to anchor the offensive line. Unfortunately that was short lived, and he's now hanging up his cleats.
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Ryan Kelly hangs up his cleats with Minnesota Vikings
There has been uncertainty as to how Ryan Kelly's career would move forward next year. He plays a pivotal role on the Minnesota Vikings offensive line, but serious injuries have mounted and made it scary for him to move forward. Now the finality has been uncovered.
10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was. I was blessed to be around some of the greatest people this sport has to offer. I always wanted to leave each place better than how I found it and with that I can hang my hat. Forever grateful for my family and brothers! Cheers pic.twitter.com/LzliGJ2wOK
— Ryan Kelly (@ryan_kelly70) March 6, 2026
A former 18th overall pick , Ryan Kelly spent the first nine years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts . As a free agent last offseason, he signed a two-year deal worth $18 million to play for the MN Vikings.
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He suffered multiple concussions last year, and was able to play in just eight games because of that. He played in 10 the year prior, and last played all 17 in 2022. Although he is just 32 years old, the toll that Kelly has taken to his head must be weighed when considering his future quality of life.
While this could have been the assumed outcome for months, Kelly's departure is going to hurt Minnesota. He was ranked 4th (out of 40) among centers last year by Pro Football Focus. He was slightly better as a pass blocker, but exceptional as a run blocker as well.
Kelly made four Pro Bowl's over the course of his career. He was an exceptional talent, but this seems like the right move. He has a wife and children that want to experience his post playing career with him, and the extensive brain injury history could not be overlooked.
Ryan Kelly posted a longer version of his retirement message on IG. pic.twitter.com/VlUJ2De21D
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 6, 2026
MN Vikings need a new center
It's not good news that the Minnesota Vikings will now be without Ryan Kelly in 2026. If there are silver linings, it's that they already got a glimpse what that looked like last season.
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Kevin O'Connell needed a different center for nine games, and he rotated both Michael Jurgens and Blake Brandel there . Both of those players are back for Minnesota and could be in-house options.
Kelly was set to carry a cap hit of $11.7 million this season. With his retirement, the dead cap hit of $3.36 million hits immediately, but it also saves the Vikings more than $8 million.
There are a multitude of ways that Minnesota could spend that money, but adding a quality center may be among them. Tyler Linderbaum is projected to be the top option available . Only Lloyd Cushenberry made more ($12.5 million) than the savings Kelly's retirement creates for Minnesota among free agent centers.
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