Stephen Weatherly

• Returns to Minnesota after spending 2020 in Carolina as a free agent, where he started a career-best 8 games before going on injured reserve.

• Middle name, Dian, is a tribute to his grandmother, a Harvard and MIT graduate.

• Only 2nd Vanderbilt player drafted by the Vikings.

OFF THE FIELD

• Majored in sociology at Vanderbilt.

• An active participant in Vikings social justice initiatives, including trips to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center and multiple Twin Cities high schools.
• Active with the One Love Foundation, dedicated to eliminating relationship violence through education and empowerment on college campuses and worked closely with Vanderbilt's Project Safe Center while in school

• Traveled throughout Germany as a teen with the Fulton County Youth Commission.

• Has a musical side, having learned to play 9 instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, tenor sax, steel drums and piano and was on his school's robotics teams.

• Played in 2014 and 2015 at Vanderbilt under former Vikings assistant defensive backs coach Derek Mason.

• Has an interest and in day trading and cryptocurrencies.

• Returns to Minnesota after spending 2020 in Carolina as a free agent, where he started a career-best 8 games before going on injured reserve.

• Middle name, Dian, is a tribute to his grandmother, a Harvard and MIT graduate.

• Only 2nd Vanderbilt player drafted by the Vikings.

OFF THE FIELD

• Majored in sociology at Vanderbilt.

• An active participant in Vikings social justice initiatives, including trips to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center and multiple Twin Cities high schools.
• Active with the One Love Foundation, dedicated to eliminating relationship violence through education and empowerment on college campuses and worked closely with Vanderbilt's Project Safe Center while in school

• Traveled throughout Germany as a teen with the Fulton County Youth Commission.

• Has a musical side, having learned to play 9 instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, tenor sax, steel drums and piano and was on his school's robotics teams.

• Played in 2014 and 2015 at Vanderbilt under former Vikings assistant defensive backs coach Derek Mason.

• Has an interest and in day trading and cryptocurrencies.

PRO

• Returns to Minnesota for 2021 as a free agent.

• Signed with Carolina as a free agent for the 2020 season, starting a career-high 8 games for the Panthers.

• Became a regular member of Vikings defensive line rotation in 2018, starting 6 games

• The 2nd Vanderbilt player ever drafted by the Vikings, joining DT James Manley in 1996 (2nd round, #45)

• The lone defensive lineman selected by Vikings in 2016.

• Cut prior to the 2016 regular season and signed to the Vikings practice squad on 9/4/16.

2020

• Started career-high 9 games in his lone season with Carolina as a free agent.

• Started opening 9 games of the season before being placed on season-ending injured reserve.

• Notched season-best 4 tackles in final game he played vs. Atlanta (10/29), adding a TFL.

2019

• Appeared in all 16 games with 1 start in 2019, finishing with 31 total tackles and 3.0 sacks.

• Notched 1 special teams tackle and his 1st career postseason sack in the Divisional game at San Francisco (1/11/20).

• Recorded 2 solo tackles in the Vikings Wild Card victory at New Orleans (1/5/20).

• Made his 1st start of the 2019 season vs. Chicago (12/29), recording a season-high 7 tackles along with 1 TFL, 1.0 sack, and 3 QBHs

• Strip-sacked Chiefs quarterback Matt Moore for a loss of 10 yards while also recording 2 QBHs at Kansas City (11/3).

2018

• Appeared in all 16 games with the opening 6 starts of career.

• Had 1.0 sack vs. Detroit (11/4) as the defense set a franchise record by sacking Matthew Stafford 10 times.

• Had 1st career FF in the 2nd quarter at Philadelphia (10/7), which DT Linval Joseph returned 64 yards for a TD.

• Made his 1st career start vs. Buffalo (9/23), registering a career-high 8 solo tackles, 2 QBH and his 1st career sack.

2017

• Saw action in 15 games in his 2nd NFL season as Vikings won the NFC North and advanced to the NFC title game.

• Played in Divisional Round game vs. New Orleans and NFC Championship Game at Philadelphia.

• Tallied 1 QBH and 2 ST tackles at Green Bay (12/23) as the Vikings posted their 1st shutout since 1993.

• Saw extended action on defense for the 1st time in his career at Washington (11/12), recording then-career-high 3 tackles.

2016

• Played in 2 games late in rookie season after being promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

• Registered a special teams tackle, the 1st of his career, vs. Chicago (1/1/17).

• Made his NFL debut on special teams at Jacksonville (12/11).

• Elevated to the active roster on 11/20, he joined the Vikings practice squad on 9/4 after being released during final cuts as Vikings trimmed to 53-man roster.

COLLEGE

• Started 21 of the 36 career games he played at Vanderbilt.

• Started all 12 games as a junior in 2015 at OLB.

• Ended collegiate career with streak of 17 straight starts.

• Had career-best 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2014 and started 1st career game vs. Temple.

Saw action in 12 of possible 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2013, helping squad post 9-4 mark and advance to the Compass Bowl where the Commodores topped Houston 41-24, the 1st bowl win for Vandy since the 1982 Hall of Fame Bowl.

• Redshirted in 2012.

PREP

• Attended Shiloh High as a senior after spending freshman-junior seasons at North Atlanta.

• Earned All-Area honors as a senior.

• Competed in Gwinnett County All-Star Game as a senior.