EAGAN, Minn. – When Minnesota hosts the New York Jets at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon, the Vikings will be using their feet to promote causes close to their hearts.
After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic largely impacting the players' ability to have in-person presences in the community, lessened restrictions in 2022 have enabled more direct involvement with various nonprofits around the Twin Cities and beyond.
Players will don custom-designed cleats that recently were unveiled to the athletes. The footwear is painted to represent respective causes players selected to raise awareness and support for.
Among the organizations represented this season are some of the players' personal foundations or charities, including Thielen Foundation, created by Adam Thielen, and Harrison's Playmakers, founded by Harrison Phillips.
Other players are again shining light on organizations close to their heart: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (C.J. Ham), Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities (Harrison Smith), Boys & Girls Clubs (Danielle Hunter), the Minnesota Vikings Foundation (Dalvin Cook) and Golden Charter Academy (Eric Kendricks), among others.
New this year, the Wilf family graciously extended the My Cause My Cleats opportunity to the football and business staffs, as well. Keep an eye on Vikings.com this week for feature stories on Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, Vikings staff members and players alike.
Below is a list of the Vikings players participating in this year's My Cause My Cleats campaign through custom kicks.
NOTE: Players are listed in alphabetical order and include active roster, practice squad and Injured Reserve.
Brian Asamoah II, LB
Organization: NFL Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and athletics
Andrew Booth, Jr., CB
Organization: M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Cause: Youth health
Kris Boyd, CB
Organization: Victims First
Cause: Mass casualty relief
Garrett Bradbury, C
Organization: M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Cause: Youth health
Blake Brandel, T
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Camryn Bynum, S
Organization: Keys to Freedom Ministries
Cause: Social justice (faith-based)
Dan Chisena, WR
Organization: THON
Cause: Youth health
Ezra Cleveland, G
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Ryan Connelly, LB
Organization: Breath of Hope Foundation
Cause: Cancer awareness
Kirk Cousins, QB
Organization: International Justice Mission
Cause: Anti human-trafficking
Cam Dantzler, Sr., CB
Organization: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Cause: Mental health
Christian Darrisaw, T
Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities
Cause: Youth health
Andrew DePaola, LS
Organization: Bo’s Effort
Cause: Mental health
Troy Dye, LB
Organization: The Leela Project
Cause: Youth
Ben Ellefson, TE
Organization: Gigi’s Playhouse
Cause: Down syndrome awareness
Akayleb Evans, CB
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
C.J. Ham, FB
Organization: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Cause: Cancer awareness
Jordan Hicks, LB
Organization: International Justice Mission
Cause: Anti human-trafficking
Kyle Hinton, G
Organization: Play the Next Play
Cause: Military member and veteran support
T.J. Hockenson, TE
Organization: Warrior Rising
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Danielle Hunter, OLB
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs
Cause: Youth enrichment
Ed Ingram, G
Organization: AdopteeBridge
Cause: Adoption
Justin Jefferson, WR
Organization: Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ)
Cause: Youth education
Patrick Jones II, OLB
Organization: NAMI
Cause: Mental health
Eric Kendricks, LB
Organization: Golden Charter Academy
Cause: Education
Vederian Lowe, T
Organization: Shriner’s Hospital
Cause: Youth health
James Lynch, DL
Organization: Pat Tillman Foundation
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Alexander Mattison, RB
Organization: I Am Gifted
Cause: Mental health awareness and suicide prevention
Josh Metellus, S
Organization: Postpartum Support International
Cause: Postpartum depression awareness
Nick Mullens, QB
Organization: Disabled American Veterans Charity
Cause: Military member and veteran support
Kene Nwangwu, RB
Organization: March of Dimes
Cause: Infant health
Brian O'Neill, T
Organization: Autism Speaks
Cause: Autism awareness
K.J. Osborn, WR
Organization: The Salvation Army
Harrison Phillips, DT
Organization: Harrison’s Playmakers
Cause: Youth & special needs
Jalen Reagor, WR
Organization: Black Men Heal
Cause: Mental health
Chris Reed, OL
Organization: American Heart Association
Cause: Heart health
Harrison Smith, S
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities
Cause: Youth mentorship
Irv Smith, Jr., TE
Organization: American Cancer Society
Cause: Health / Cancer research
Za'Darius Smith, OLB
Organization: Good Life Foundation
Cause: Youth
Josh Sokol, C
Organization: Life4Evan
Cause: Youth health
Adam Thielen, WR
Organization: Thielen Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and mental health
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT
Organization: Brighter Days Grief Center
Cause: Support after loss
Olisaemekah Udoh, T
Organization: Minnesota Vikings Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment
D.J. Wonnum
Organization: Secondhand Hounds
Cause: Pet adoption
