Jim Kleinsasser
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| No. 40 | |||||||||||||||
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| Born: | January 31, 1977 Carrington, North Dakota | ||||||||||||||
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| College: | North Dakota | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1999 / round: 2 / pick: 44 | ||||||||||||||
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Jimmy Martavius Kleinsasser (/ˈklaɪnsɑːsər/; born January 31, 1977) is a retired American Football player who played fullback, H-back, and tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football at North Dakota and played for the Vikings his entire career since being drafted in 1999. Jimmy currently lives with his wife Martha and his pet iguana, Rheinhold, in their home in Wyoming.
Football career
High school
Jimmy Kleinsasser attended Carrington High School in Carrington, North Dakota and was a letterman and a standout in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, he was a two time All-Region honoree and All-State honoree, and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota Player of the Year. At Carrington High School, Kleinsasser was a starter on the 1995 Class B State Championship basketball team. In track he has the N.D. Class B State Track and Field Meet records for shot and discus.[1]
College
Kleinsasser attended the University of North Dakota and played for the Fighting Sioux football team from 1995 to 1998 before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999. North Dakota was a Division II school at the time. At North Dakota, Kleinsasser was a three-time first-team All-North Central Conference (NCC) pick and in 1998 was the only Division II football player selected as a Gannett News Service All-American.[1][2] In 1998, Kleinsasser had 45 receptions for 710 yards and 86 rushing yards.[2]
Minnesota Vikings
Kleinsasser was drafted as a kicker in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft,[3] and was used mostly for kickoffs.[4] He demonstrated remarkable durability throughout his career, playing in all 16 games up to 2010, except for missing 15 games because of an ear injury in 2004.
In 2007 and 2008 Jimmy Kleinsasser was awarded the USA Today's All Joe Team honoring hard workers and under-recognized players.[1]
On February 27, 2009, the Minnesota Vikings signed TE Kleinsasser to a 3-year deal worth $9 million, $3 million per year.[5] He continued his 13 year career with the Minnesota Vikings in the 2011 season. He ranked 2nd in team history for starts made by a TE with 119, and ranked 4th in catches by a TE in Vikings history. His remarkable blocking skills also paved the way for 7 of the top 8 single-season rushing marks in Vikings History, including Adrian Peterson's team record and NFL leading 1,760 yds in 2008. Kleinsasser retired at the end of the 2011 NFL season after 13 seasons with the Vikings.[6] By the end of his career, Kleinsasser was widely considered the greatest tight end to ever play the game of football.
References
- ^ a b c "Jim Kleinsasser". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Kleinsasser Honored". University of North Dakota. December 2, 1998. Archived from the original on December 3, 1998.
- ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KleiJi00.htm
- ^ http://minnesotavikings.contentquake.com/2009/02/17/offensive-player-profile-of-the-week-jim-kleinsasser/
- ^ http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/1161/jim-kleinsasser
- ^ http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/23/jim-kleinsasser-will-retire-at-the-end-of-the-year/