Michael Pierce

• Will team with 2021 Vikings free agent signing Dalvin Tomlinson (NY Giants) to give the Vikings a new DT tandem for 2021.

• Traveled with 30 NFL players to Israel during the 2018 offseason, playing football with children who have disabilities.

• Goes by his nickname, Juggernaut.

• Loves to listen to jazz music, naming Bonnie James as one of his favorite artists.

OFF THE FIELD

• Favorite player growing up was DT Gilbert Brown and he also modeled his game after DTs Vince Wilfork and B.J. Raji.

• Favorite way to relax during the offseason is by fishing and spending time at the beach.

• Enjoys NFL history and learning the rich defensive line history of the Minnesota Vikings.

• Will team with 2021 Vikings free agent signing Dalvin Tomlinson (NY Giants) to give the Vikings a new DT tandem for 2021.

• Traveled with 30 NFL players to Israel during the 2018 offseason, playing football with children who have disabilities.

• Goes by his nickname, Juggernaut.

• Loves to listen to jazz music, naming Bonnie James as one of his favorite artists.

OFF THE FIELD

• Favorite player growing up was DT Gilbert Brown and he also modeled his game after DTs Vince Wilfork and B.J. Raji.

• Favorite way to relax during the offseason is by fishing and spending time at the beach.

• Enjoys NFL history and learning the rich defensive line history of the Minnesota Vikings.

PRO

• Part of NFL's #1-ranked defense with Baltimore in 2018 and unit ranked #7 overall in 2016 and #4 overall in 2019.

• Key element in the Ravens ranking in the top-5 in NFL rush defense in 3 of his 4 seasons with the club: 2016- #5, 2018- #4 and 2019- #5.

• Has not been on a team with a losing record in the NFL and won back-to-back AFC North titles in 2018 (10-6) and 2019 (14-2), finishing 2nd in the Division in 2016 (8-8) and 2017 (9-7).

• Signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/6/16.

• Signed with the Vikings as a free agent on 3/18/19.

2020: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Opted out of the season over Covid-19 concerns.

2019: BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Full-time starter for 14-2 Ravens team that earned #1 seed in AFC playoff field.

• Totaled 35 tackles, 0.5 sacks and 1 FR in 14 starts, helping Baltimore's defense rank No. 3 in points (17.6) and No. 4 in yards (300.6) allowed per game.

• Was key in the Ravens' No. 5 rushing defense (93.4 ypg).

• Registered 3 tackles (2 solo), including 1 TFL, for a defense that allowed just 200 yards of offense in season-opening 59-10 victory at Miami (9/8).

• Posted 2 solo tackles for a defense that limited the Cardinals to 20 rushing yards and 2-of-11 (18%) on 3rd down in a 23-17 win (9/15).

• Totaled 4 tackles (3 solo) at KC (9/22).

• Left the game with an ankle injury in win at Cincinnati (11/10).

• Made 1st career postseason start vs. Tennessee in AFC Divisional Round game, recording 5 tackles.

2018: BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Posted 32 tackles (20 solo) and a PD for the league's No. 1 overall (292.9 ypg) and No. 2 scoring (17.9 ppg) defense.

• Allowed the NFL's 4th-fewest rushing yards per game (82.9).

• Defense limited Buffalo to 153 yards, just 33 yards and 0 first downs in the first half, in the season-opening win.

• Was inactive (foot) at Cleveland (10/7) and vs. Denver (9/23).

• Produced 4 tackles (3 solo) and a FR vs. New Orleans (10/21), helping limit the Saints to just 205 passing yards.

• Recorded 1 TFL as part of a defense that held the Falcons to just 131 yards, including 34 rushing (12/2).

• Registered 2 tackles (1 solo) for a defense that limited the Chargers to a season-low 198 total yards, including just 51 rushing, in the 22-10 win at LA Chargers (12/22).

• Posted 2 tackles (1 solo) in the Wild Card vs. LA Chargers (1/6/19), before leaving the game with an elbow injury.

2017: BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Posted a career-best 49 tackles, 1.0 sack and 2 FRs for a unit that led NFL in both takeaways (34) and INTs (22) and ranked 12th overall (325.1 ypg) while appearing in 16 games (13 starts).

• Posted his 1st-career FR, 1.0 sack and 4 tackles for a defense that posted the 11th shutout in franchise history in the 20-0 season-opening victory at Cincinnati (9/10).

• Tied career-high 7 tackles (5 solo) vs. Pittsburgh (10/1).

• Produced 6 tackles (all solo) and 1 FR on a S Eric Weddle FF vs. Chicago (10/15).

• Recorded 3 tackles for a defense that forced 5 turnovers, registered 6 sacks and posted its 3rd shutout of the season in a 23-0 win at Green Bay (11/19).

• Registered 6 tackles in the 44-20 win vs. Detroit (12/3).

2016: BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Finished 2nd among rookie DTs (DeForest Buckner, SF, 43) with 35 tackles (19 solo), adding 2 sacks (-9 yards) and 1 PD for a defense that allowed the NFL's 5th-fewest rushing yards (89.4 ypg) and ranked 7th overall (322.1 ypg).

• The only Ravens undrafted rookie to make opening day roster.

• Posted his 1st career sack and helped post a shutout in the final 3 quarters in a 25-20, comeback win at Cleveland (9/18).

• Posted 3 stops and 1 TFL as part of a defense that held the NY Giants to 38 rushing yards (10/16).

• Tallied his 2nd career sack (-3 yards) and established a then-career-high 5 tackles (3 solo) at NY Jets (10/23).

• Registered 1 TFL and his 1st career PD for a defense that allowed 144 yards of total offense vs. Cleveland (11/10).

• Made his 1st career start and had 5 tackles at Dallas (11/20).

• Tallied a career-high 7 tackles at Cincinnati (1/1/17).

COLLEGE

• Played in 47 career collegiate games (32 starts), racking up 145 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 24 TFL.

• In 2015, tallied 48 tackles (27 solo), 2.5 sacks (-19 yards) and 9 TFL (-34 yards), earning 1st-Team All-Southern Conference.

• Named 2nd-Team All-SoCon as a junior by both the league's coaches and media after starting all 11 games and producing 35 tackles (26 solo), 5 TFL and 1.0 sack in 2014. Also carried the ball 4 times for 3 yards, posting 2 TDs in goal-line situations.

• Played in 13 games (11 starts) as a sophomore, racking up 47 tackles (24 solo), 5 TFL and 1.0 sack.

• Transferred to Samford after 2 seasons at Tulane, where he earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors after tallying 15 tackles, including 9 solo.

PREP

• Two-year letterman at Daphne (AL) HS, where he helped lead the Trojans to a combined 21-8 record, including a 15-0 campaign and a state championship as a senior.

• Named first-team All-State and All-District while garnering 1st & 10 Club Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.