Minnesota Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser will be retiring at the end of this season after a 13-year career, he confirmed to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Friday.
The Vikings selected Kleinsasser in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft out of North Dakota. He was originally drafted as a fullback, but he soon developed into one of the best blocking tight ends in football.
His run blocking has been a staple of the Vikings offence, helping Robert Smith, Michael Bennett, and Adrian Peterson all make Pro Bowls, though he never made one himself.
"I’m walking away with two legs that work great and my head is still intact, so I think I feel good about leaving the game right now and just kind of moving on," Kleinsasser told the Star-Tribune.
Kleinsasser has just one reception this year, netting four yards.
Over the course of his career, he has 192 receptions for 1,688 yards and seven total touchdowns.
