88 games/73 starts; 31 games/21 starts as a Viking
Has started 73 of the 88 games he has played in his career...Part of the NFL’s #1-ranked rushing defense for back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006…Joined the Vikings during 2006 offseason and helped the team’s overall defense climb from #21 in the NFL in 2005 to #8 in 2006, the 1st time the team has been in the top 10 in total defense since 1994…Also helped the Vikings to a #1 ranking against the run for only the 3rd time in team history…Played a large role in the defense breaking several team records, including fewest rushing yards allowed in a season (985), fewest rushing yards allowed in a game (-3 at Detroit, 12/10/06), fewest rushing attempts in a game (6 vs. Arizona, 11/26/06) and fewest rushing 1st downs for a season (53)…The Vikings 985 rushing yards allowed ranks as the 2nd-lowest total in the NFL since the 1970 merger…Helped with a dramatic turnaround of the San Diego defense, climbing from #30 in the NFL in 2002 to #18 in 2004 and #13 in 2005...Helped Chargers rank #1 in the NFL against the run in 2005, allowing 84.3 yards per game...Stepped into starting lineup as a rookie and made an immediate impact, earning All-Rookie honors...Drafted in 3rd Round (#71) in 2002 by San Diego...Had career-high 3.0 sacks of Texans QB David Carr on 9/15/02...His 3.0 and notched a sack of Tom Brady in the game...Sacked Drew Bledsoe in season opener vs. Dallas (9/11) along with fumble recovery, 5 tackles and a pair of tackles for loss against the Cowboys...Had a tackle for loss and 5 tackles vs. Pittsburgh (10/10)...Inactive for pair of games before going on injured reserve with foot injury on 11/30.
• Tied for Vikings lead with 5.0 sacks on the 2007 season, matching career-best as a rookie in 2002. • Part of the NFL’s #1-ranked rush defense in the past 3 straight seasons, ’05 with San Diego and ’06, ’07 with the Vikings. • Has snared an INT in each of his 2 seasons with the Vikings. • Posted career-best 88 tackles in 2007 and ranked 3rd on the Vikings with 88 stops. • His 5.0 sacks in 2007 tied for 4th-best in a season by a LB in Vikings history. • Joined with fellow LB E.J. Henderson to post 9.5 sacks on the season, the 2nd-most by a LB tandem in Vikings history behind the 1995 duo of Jack Del Rio and Ed McDaniel’s 10.5 sacks. • Tied a Vikings record for the longest sack in team history when he caught Eli Manning for a 26-yard loss @ NY Giants (11/25) in an upset win over the playoff-bound Giants. • Forced a fumble on Bears return man Devin Hester on a punt return vs. Chicago (12/17) on Monday Night Football. • Had back-to-back games with a takeaway, an INT @ Chicago (10/14) and a FR @ Dallas (10/21). • Picked up a fumble by Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton @ Dallas (10/21), returned it 10 yards, and lateraled to CB Cedric Griffin who returned the ball 50 yards for a TD. • Posted 1st game in his career with a sack and an INT @ Chicago (10/14) when he caught Brian Griese and grabbed an errant Griese pass. Both his career INTs have come with the Vikings at Soldier Field.
Supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities and the Children’s Home Society and FamilyServices…Was active in several community outreach programs during his Chargers tenure, helping raise funds for the San Diego Fire Department to purchase helicopters, a cause close to him as he was nearly evacauted from his home during the October 2003 wild fires that ravaged thearea...Joined a pair of other Chargers players who flew out to visit troops on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in January 2005...Married, wife’s name is Abby...Couple has a pair of Great Danes, Moose and Belle...Parents, Al and Han, met while Al was stationed in Korea with the U.S. Army...Father was Ben’s high school principal at Vermillion High...Brother, Jason, was an All-America RB at University of South Dakota in their hometown of Vermillion...Holds bachelor’s degree in business-general management from Kansas State.