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Jake Essler begins his eighth season in 2024 with the Vikings personnel department and entered his fourth season in his present scouting role after working as a BLESTO scout. His primary responsibility is to create early stage evaluations by evaluating NFL-level talent college players. Essler focuses on finding draft-eligible talent in schools in the FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III programs.

Jake Essler begins his eighth season in 2024 with the Vikings personnel department and entered his fourth season in his present scouting role after working as a BLESTO scout. His primary responsibility is to create early stage evaluations by evaluating NFL-level talent college players. Essler focuses on finding draft-eligible talent in schools in the FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III programs.

Essler started with the Vikings as a scouting intern during the 2017 season where he helped assist both pro scouts and college scouts evaluate players. Before joining the Vikings, the Spicer, Minn., native coached running backs at St. John's University and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

The 2014 graduate of St. John's in Collegeville, Minn., suited up for 30 games as a running back and return specialist for the Johnnies from 2010-13. In 2012, he played in all 10 games and was named All-MIAC Honorable Mention. Essler earned his Masters of Education from Minnesota-Duluth in 2017. He is engaged to Isabel and resides in Shakopee, Minn.