• Led the team in tackles for the 4th consecutive season, finishing 2018 with 122 total tackles.
• Recorded INTs in back-to-back games in Weeks 13-14, making him the 1st Vikings LB with multiple INTs in a single season since Chad Greenway (3) and Erin Henderson (2) in 2013.
• One of two Vikings to intercept Tom Brady, joining Darren Sharper.
• Racked up a career-high 18 total tackles at New England (12/2) in Week 13 while picking off Tom Brady for his 3rd career INT.
• Was the 2nd Vikings rookie to lead team in tackles in team history and the 1st since 1961 expansion season when Rip Hawkins led the club.
• T-2nd most career INT Return TDs (2) in team history by a LB, trailing only Rip Hawkins (3).
OFF THE FIELD Earned his degree in political science...Father, Horace, was a RB at UCLA and went on to play in the Canadian Football League…Brother, Mychal, attended California and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2nd round (#46 overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft, 1 pick lower than younger brother Eric would go 3 years later...Named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll each year from 2011-14…”Leap Year” baby born on 2/29/92 in Clovis, CA….1 of 8 siblings...Regularly met with youth at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center throughout the 2018 season, sitting in on classes and speaking with students...Visited pediatric patients at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital during the 2019 offseason, playing video games, doing arts and crafts and talking football with the kids.
HONORS Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for game at Tennessee (9/11/16)...Named to PFWA All-Rookie Team for 2015...Earned NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for October 2015.
PRO Has led Minnesota in tackles in 4 consecutive seasons...started all 16 games for the league’s #1-ranked scoring and yards defense in 2017...Became the 2nd player and 1st LB in team history to record at least 10 TFL and 10 PD in the same season, after recording 126 tackles (86 solo), 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 QBHs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT and 11 PD in 2016...Scored his 1st-career TD, returning an INT 77 yards, at Tennessee (9/11/16)...Paired with DE Danielle Hunter (24-yard FR-TD) to mark the 6th time in team history TDs were scored by INT and fumble return in a game...Took over regular starting role for Vikings at MLB as a rookie in 2015...Became the 2nd Vikings rookie to lead team in tackles when he posted 105 in 2015 (Rip Hawkins, 1961)...Selected in the 2nd Round with the #45 overall pick in 2015 NFL Draft...College roommate and teammate of 2014 1st-round selection, Anthony Barr.
2018 Started 14 consecutive games to begin the season before missing the final 2 due to a hamstring injury...Despite missing time, led the team in tackles for the 4th consecutive season, finishing with 122...Inactive Weeks 16-17 with a hamstring injury..Wrapped up his 1st sack of the season vs. Miami (12/16)...At Seattle (12/10), marked his 2nd straight game with and INT, picking off Russell Wilson in the red zone (3 yard return) to become the 1st Vikings LB with multiple INTs in a single season since Chad Greenway (3) and Erin Henderson (2) in 2013...Broke a career high set 2 weeks prior by recording 18 total tackles (11 solo) at New England (12/2). Also intercepted Tom Brady for the 3rd INT of his career...Racked up a career-high 14 total tackles at Chicago (11/18), including a career-high 12 solo tackles. Also forced 1 QBH...Produced a team-leading 10 tackles (7 solo) vs. New Orleans, a season high. Also recorded 2 TFL...Led the team with 7 tackles (4 solo) and logged 2 PBUs at New York (10/21)...Led the team with 7 tackles (4 solo) vs. Arizona (10/14)...Played in his 50th career game at Philadelphia (10/7), leading the team with 8 tackles (4 solo) and recovering a Jay Ajayi fumble at the goal line...Recorded 5 tackles (4 solo), 2 QBH and 1 forced fumble against San Francisco (9/9).
2017 Led the team with a career-high 136 tackles, starting all 16 games for the 1st time in his career for the #1 defense in the NFL...Registered 6 solo tackles and 2 PD at Philadelphia (1/21/18)...Had a team-high 10 tackles (7 solo) and 2 QBH in the Vikings Divisional Round win vs. New Orleans (1/14/18)...Made 8 tackles (5 solo) and a PD at Green Bay (12/23) as the Vikings shutout the Packers at Lambeau for the 1st time ever...Led the team with 6 tackles (4 solo), a TFL and his 2nd career INT which he returned 31 yards for his 2nd career INT TD vs. Cincinnati (12/17) to clinch the NFC North for the 2nd time in 3 seasons...Totaled 10 tackles (6 solo) at Carolina (12/10) for his 7th double-digit tackle game in 2017, also added 2 QBH...Led the team with 11 solo tackles, his 6th game this season with double-digit tackles, which pushes his season total over the century mark for the 3rd straight season, and a PD at Atlanta (12/3)...Recorded a career-high 4 QBH at Detroit (11/23) on Thanksgiving Day while also tallying 3 tackles (1 solo)...Led the team in tackles for the 3rd consecutive week, totaling 13 tackles (8 solo) with a TFL, 2 QBH and 2 passes defended vs. Cleveland (10/29) at Twickenham Stadium in London, England as a part of the NFL’s International Series...Led the team with 13 tackles, tying a career-high (11 solo) and 4 TFL, also tying a career-high, vs. Baltimore (10/22)...Posted a team-high 11 tackles (9 solo) and a PD vs. Green Bay (10/15)...Compiled 9 tackles (5 solo), his 1st sack of the season along with 2 TFL and 2 QBH vs. Detroit (10/1)...Led the team with 13 total tackles (6 solo) at Pittsburgh (9/17).
2016 Totaled a career-high 126 tackles (86 solo) – including 49 in the final 4 games of the season – 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 QBHs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT and 11 PD…Became the 2nd Viking and 1st LB in team history to record at least 10 TFL and 10 PD in the same season...Matched a career high with 13 tackles (8 solo), adding 1 TFL and 1 QBH, vs. Chicago (1/1/17)...Registered career highs in tackles (13, tied), sacks (2.5) and TFL (4), adding 3 QBHs, at Green Bay (12/24)...Tied for 2nd among LBs in franchise history with his 2.5 sacks against the Packers...Led Minnesota’s LBs with 12 tackles, reaching the 100-tackle mark for the 2nd time in his career, vs. Indianapolis (12/18)...Totaled a team-high 11 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 PD at Jacksonville (12/11)...Tallied 8 tackles and recovered a WR Lucky Whitehead fumble forced by DE Everson Griffen vs. Dallas (12/1)...Recorded 5 tackles, including 1 TFL, and 1 PD vs. Arizona (11/20)...Tabbed 1 tackle and 1 PD before leaving the game with a hip injury in the 1st quarter at Washington (11/13)...Inactive (concussion) vs. Detroit (11/6)...Notched a game-high 9 tackles at Chicago (10/31)...Led the team with 12 tackles at Philadelphia (10/23)...Competed against his brother, Eagles LB Mychal Kendricks, for just the 2nd time and 1st since college when Eric’s UCLA Bruins played Mychal’s Cal Bears...Led Vikings LBs with 8 tackles, adding 1 PD, at NY Giants (10/3)...Posted 5 stops, including 1 TFL, 1 FF (recovered by S Andrew Sendejo) and 1 PD vs. Green Bay (9/18)...Scored his 1st-career TD, returning an INT 77 yards, to give the Vikings its 1st lead of the day in the season opener at Tennessee (9/11)...Paired with DE Danielle Hunter (24-yard FR-TD) to mark the 6th time in team history TDs were scored by INT and fumble returns in a single game...Also posted 7 tackles, including 1 TFL, against the Titans en route to winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
2015 Stepped into starting role early in rookie campaign and went on to lead team in tackles with 105, the 2nd time in team history a rookie led the team in stops...Honored in postseason with spot on the PFWA/PFW All-Rookie Team...Selected as NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for October 2015 when he had 25 tackles and 4 sacks in a 3-game span...Tied for 2nd in Vikings history with 4.0 sacks by a rookie LB and ranks tied for 4th in club history for starts by a rookie LB...Helped Vikings to an 11-5 mark and NFC North title...Part of rookie group that tied a team record by starting 6 players in a game when Kendricks joined T T.J. Clemmings, WR Stefon Diggs, LB Edmond Robinson, CB Trae Waynes and S Anthony Harris in the starting lineup at Arizona (12/10)...Notched season-best 13 tackles vs. Kansas City (10/18)...Had season-high 2.0 sacks at Detroit...Took over starting duties at MLB at Denver (10/4), a narrow 23-20 loss, and notched 1st career sack when he hauled down future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning...Missed 2 games, vs. St. Louis (11/8) and at Oakland (11/15) with injury...Had 3-game streak with a sack - at Denver, vs. Kansas City and at Detroit.
COLLEGE All-time leading tackler in UCLA history with 481 tackles…Started 42 career games for the Bruins...Became UCLA’s 1st Butkus Award winner in 2014…Won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the 2nd straight season a Bruin won that award (Anthony Barr, 2013)…Earned All-American praise as a senior…Led UCLA in tackles each season from 2012-14…INT return for TD vs. Virginia, 3rd TD of his career…Co-Captain in 2014…Presented at team banquet with Best Leadership Award, Heart Award and Most Valuable Player Award…Co-Captain in 2013, earning honorable mention all-conference and all-academic team...Started all 14 games as a sophomore and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 and academic all-conference as sophomore...Started 3 of his 14 contests as a freshman and ranked 2nd on the team in tackles (76), earning the Bruins Rookie of the Year award…Honorable mention as freshman All-American and Pac-12 all-academic team…Took a redshirt in 2010 and was named the team’s Outstanding Scout Team Player.
PREP 3-year letter winner at Herbert Hoover HS in Fresno, CA…Saw action at LB, QB, RB, K and P…Served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons…Notched 117 tackles and 2 INTs as a senior...Scored 14 TDs on offense…Named 1st-Team All-League defense by the Fresno Bee during junior and senior campaigns…Standout in basketball and baseball…Team captain and 1st-Team All-League in 2009 in basketball…1st-Team All-League in 2009-10 in baseball…Named 2010 Male Tri-Athlete of the Year at Herbert Hoover HS.
