"I think Max is as smart as any young player I've been around."

That quote is attributed to Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell. Its origins? During run-of-the-mill Organized Team Activities over the summer. Max Brosmer didn't look like the ordinary UDFA, though.

The 24-year-old quarterback impressed O'Connell enough for the coach to verbalize his confidence.

Fast-forward to the present, and Brosmer's grip of his position and his understanding of the Vikings offense is so impressive he could make his first NFL start Sunday, one year and a day since polishing off a seven-win regular season as the QB of the Golden Gophers with a clean beatdown of the rival Badgers.

Brosmer entered the year as QB3 for the Vikings but got bumped up when J.J. McCarthy sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 2. He served as Carson Wentz's backup for several games and when Wentz landed on Injured Reserve after Thursday Night Football in Los Angeles, and McCarthy rejoined the fold for Week 9, Brosmer maintained his No. 2 standing on the depth chart. He has lived in a "snap-away world" for a while. And, if McCarthy does not clear concussion protocol, Brosmer will start at Seattle.

So, who exactly is the unheralded rookie? And what's he shown since joining the team post-draft?

Alec Lewis of The Athletic reminded of O'Connell's praise and provided insights on Brosmer in this article.

Lewis wrote the following:

Minnesota could've added a veteran backup at the trade deadline. Current Atlanta Falcons starter Kirk Cousins was a candidate; he told confidants that he would be OK serving as McCarthy's backup. But the Vikings decided to roll with their young QB room. This was an admission by the Vikings decision-makers that they desperately wanted to see what McCarthy was capable of this season. It was also a window into the faith they had in Brosmer's ability to manage the stressors that come with being one snap away.

…

His on-the-fly processing ability was part of what intrigued O'Connell two years ago when he attended the Golden Gophers pro day. Brosmer had not yet played for Minnesota. Being local allowed O'Connell to keep close tabs on Brosmer's development, particularly over the back half of his final college season.

A graduate transfer from FCS New Hampshire, Brosmer played one year at the Division I FBS level, which presumably gave teams pause to draft him. Over 13 games, however, Brosmer completed a single-season program record 268 passes at a 66.5 percent clip with 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and 137.2 rating.

Lewis shared that the Director of Football Operations for the East-West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galko, has pounded the table for Brosmer for a while: "I'll stand by it," Galko said in August. "I'll be really surprised if Max does not start games in the NFL early. It's not as crazy as it sounds. Max is going to run the offense at a high level. He's not going to miss throws he shouldn't miss. He's going to trust the offense."

Brosmer has gone 5-for-8 passing with 42 yards and a long of 20 in relief action this season, showing poise and calmness in the pocket like he did in exhibitions, nailing 35 of 58 throws (60.3%) for 364 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Brosmer made five "big time" passes and two turnover-worthy plays in those tune-ups, according to Pro Football Focus, and maybe most importantly, got the ball out quickly; his average time to throw in the preseason was 2.58 seconds (T-7^th among QBs with 50-plus drop backs).

That rapid release contrasts McCarthy's 3.09 TTT in the regular season and merits awareness, but it is worth pointing out that defenses don't scheme preseason games.

'Big Ticket' closer to Canton

Affectionately known as "Big Ticket" — a football sized moniker that evolved from NBAer Kevin Garnett — Kevin Williams spent 11 seasons (2003-13) in Purple and was honored as a First-Team All-Pro five times, including in four straight seasons from 2006-09. In 171 games and starts for the Vikings, the 9^th overall draft pick in 2003 out of Oklahoma State recorded 465 tackles (104 for losses), 60 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Williams also recovered 13, pocketed two for TDs and returned two of his five INTs for scores.

Williams played a season each for Seattle and New Orleans in the twilight of his career. Among his achievements, he made six Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

And as of Tuesday morning, Williams is one step closer to punching his ticket to football immortality.

The 45-year-old is one of 26 semifinalists in the Modern-Era players category for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. It's a huge accomplishment for Williams – and an unreasonably delayed one. He retired 10 years ago and is advancing for the first time to this phase of the balloting.

Williams is one of eight defensive players vying for enshrinement this cycle and one of two first-time semifinalists not in their first years of eligibility, along with offensive lineman Lomas Brown, who was a stalwart tackle for the Lions for more than a decade starting in the mid-'80s and played 18 NFL seasons.

The other defenders are DB Rodney Harrison (5^th time as semifinalist), DB Earl Thomas (2^nd), DB Darren Woodson (10^th), LB Luke Kuechly (2^nd), LB Terrell Suggs (2^nd), DL Robert Mathis (5^th) and DL Vince Wilfork (5^th). Kuechly is an automatic semifinalist for 2026 because he finished in the Top 7 for election last year.

Semifinalists who last played in 2020 and are newly eligible are QB Drew Brees, QB Phillip Rivers, WR Larry Fitzgerald (a Minneapolis native and former Vikings ball boy), RB Frank Gore and TE Jason Witten.

Here's a snapshot of exploits that really strengthen Williams' case for a bronze bust and a gold jacket.

• His four return TDs are tied with HOFer Bob Lilly for the most all-time by a DT
• His five interceptions are neck-and-neck with Charlie Johnson, Dan Wilkinson and Haloti Ngata for the most all-time by a DT; Williams' 63 sacks leads that group of very large men by 8.5
• Williams is one of only five players in history who have garnered at least five First-Team All-Pro nods and All-Decade status but aren't in the Hall of Fame; the others are Kuechly, Del Shofner (1960s All-Decade), Grover Emerson (1930s All-Decade) and Lavern Dilweg (1920s All-Decade)
• Anchored by Williams, the 2006-08 Vikings are one of two franchises ever to rank No. 1 in rushing defense over three consecutive seasons (also the 1967-69 Dallas Cowboys, led by Lilly)

You can read about the rest of the semifinalists here. Fifteen finalists will be selected later this year.

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