Ivan Pace Jr.

CAREER NOTES

• Became the second rookie in NFL history since 1994, and the first since DeMeco Ryans in 2006 to have 13 tackles, a sack and an interception in a single game (Week 14 at LV).
• Second undrafted rookie in Vikings history (Don Hultz, 1963) and eighth in NFL history to start at least 10 games, tally 2.0 sacks and an interception, and the first since DE Fred Wakefield in 2001 (Arizona).
• Was the only player to have 10+ tackles and a fumble recovery touchdown in a game during the 2024 season. He was the first player to record that stat line since Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2022 and just the sixth player since 2000 with 10+ tackles, including a sack, and a fumble recovery touchdown in a game, achieving that feat vs. Detroit in Week 7.
• He is one of just three undrafted players (Jerrell Freeman and London Fletcher) in their first three NFL seasons since 1994 to total at least 200 defensive tackles and 6.0 sacks.

CAREER NOTES

• Became the second rookie in NFL history since 1994, and the first since DeMeco Ryans in 2006 to have 13 tackles, a sack and an interception in a single game (Week 14 at LV).
• Second undrafted rookie in Vikings history (Don Hultz, 1963) and eighth in NFL history to start at least 10 games, tally 2.0 sacks and an interception, and the first since DE Fred Wakefield in 2001 (Arizona).
• Was the only player to have 10+ tackles and a fumble recovery touchdown in a game during the 2024 season. He was the first player to record that stat line since Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2022 and just the sixth player since 2000 with 10+ tackles, including a sack, and a fumble recovery touchdown in a game, achieving that feat vs. Detroit in Week 7.
• He is one of just three undrafted players (Jerrell Freeman and London Fletcher) in their first three NFL seasons since 1994 to total at least 200 defensive tackles and 6.0 sacks.

HONORS

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2023)
• NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 14, 2023)

2025 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Played in all 17 games, with six starts, in 2025, finishing with 49 tackles, including two for loss, 1.0 sack and six QB hits on defense. He also added 13 tackles on special teams.
• Posted four tackles in Week 18 vs. Green Bay (1/4).
• Had two tackles and a QB hit in Week 10 vs. Baltimore (11/9).
• Tallied three tackles and a QB hit in Week 8 at the Los Angeles Chargers (10/23) on Thursday Night Football.
• Logged his first sack of the season in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns in London (10/5).
• In Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin (9/28), collected seven tackles.
• Led the team with eight tackles and three QB hits on defense in Week 3 vs. Cincinnati (9/21). Also had two special teams tackles.
• Had eight tackles, including one for loss, in Week 2 vs. Atlanta (9/14) on Sunday Night Football.
• Started at LB in Week 1 at Chicago (9/8) on Monday Night Football, posting five tackles.

2024 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Started 10 of the 11 games he appeared in during the 2024 season and also started his first career postseason contest during the Wild Card Round in Arizona against the L.A. Rams (1/13), logging 10 tackles, including two for loss.
• Despite missing six games with injuries, Pace had a career-high 3.0 sacks and seven tackles for loss. He also recorded an interception and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in his sophomore season.
• Intercepted QB Jared Goff in Week 18 at Detroit (1/5), marking his first interception of the season. He led the defense with 10 tackles, including one for loss, one QB hit, one interception and a pass defensed.
• Returned from Reserve/Injured in Week 17 vs. Green Bay (12/29) and logged three tackles.
• Spent Weeks 13-16 on Reserve/Injured.
• Started Week 12 at Chicago (11/24) but left the game in the first quarter with an injury.
• Registered his third sack of the season in Week 10 at Jacksonville (11/10), besting his single-season total of 2.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023. Also tied for a team-leading five tackles, including two or loss.
• Had a team-high six tackles vs. Indianapolis in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football (11/3).
• Led all defenders with 13 tackles in Week 8 at the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football (10/24), which tied his single-game career high. He also notched one tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
• In Week 7 vs. Detroit (10/20), led all defenders with 10 tackles. He scored his first career touchdown, returning a fumble forced by S Joshua Metellus 36 yards and also had a sack in the first quarter, his second of the season.
• Tallied his first sack of the season in Week 5 vs. the New York Jets in London (10/6) and added four tackles, including a single-game career-high two for loss, and two quarterback hits
• Inactive in Week 3 vs. Houston (9/22) and Week 4 vs. Green Bay (9/29) due to injury.
• Tallied eight tackles, including one for loss, in the Vikings home opener vs. San Francisco (9/15).
• Started the season opener at the New York Giants (9/8), making five tackles and registering a quarterback hurry. Also posted a tackle on special teams.

2023 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• One of three undrafted rookies to make the 53-man roster.
• Started 11 of the 17 games in which he appeared as a rookie for the Minnesota Vikings, and his 97 defensive tackles led all rookies in 2023.
• Tallied six tackles of defense and an additional two tackles on special teams at Detroit in Week 18 (1/7).
• Against Green Bay in Week 17 (12/31), led the team in tackles, tallying 11 tackles, the second most in a single game in his career.
• Recovered a fumble for the first time in his career against Detroit in Week 16 (12/24). Also made four tackles.
• His nine tackles tied for the most among all Vikings at Cincinnati in Week 15 (12/16).
• At Las Vegas in Week 14 (12/10), tallied a career-high and team-high 13 tackles, captured his first-career interception and had a sack. Seven of his 13 tackles came in the game's first quarter. By intermission, Pace had tied his career best in a single game with nine.
• Became just the second rookie in NFL history since 1994 to have at least 13 tackles, an interception and a sack in a single game, joining DeMeco Ryans (2006).
• Recorded the first full sack of his career against Chicago in Week 12 (11/27), raising his career total to 1.5. He was one of three Vikings with nine tackles, which led the team and tied his career high.
• At Denver in Week 11 (11/19), led the Vikings with nine tackles, tying his career high set in Week 2 at Philadelphia. He also registered a forced fumble for the first time in his career.
• Tied for the second-most tackles among Viking defenders with five in Week 10 against New Orleans (11/12).
• Notched four tackles against the Chargers in Week 3 and also had a quarterback hurry.
• Started his first-career game against the Eagles (9/14), collecting eight tackles, including 0.5 sack.
• Made his NFL debut against Tampa Bay (9/10), racking up eight total tackles, tied for the second most among Viking defenders.

COLLEGE - MIAMI (OHIO)/CINCINNATI

• Authored the greatest defensive season in history by a Bearcat in his only season at Cincinnati. Totaled 137 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles. He was No. 3 nationally in TFLs, sixth in the country in tackles and No. 10 in sacks.
• Transferred to Cincinnati prior to the 2022 season.
• Began career at Miami (Ohio) where he played in 13 games in 2019. Led the team with 7.0 sacks, adding 19 tackles.

HONORS

• Senior Bowl Participant (2023)
• Unanimous First-Team All-American (2022)
• AAC Defensive Player of the Year (2022)
• All-AAC First Team (2022)
• Butkus Award Finalist (2022)
• Chuck Bednarik Award Finalist (2022)
• Pro Football Focus' Second-Highest Rated Defensive Player in the Country

PREP - CINCINNATI COLERAIN (OHIO)

• Named Division I Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
• Recorded 84 tackles, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles his senior year.
• Helped lead his team to a 14-1 record and a trip to the state title game.

OFF THE FIELD

• Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• His brother, Deshawn, is a linebacker at UCF.
• Married wife, McKenzie, in February of 2026.