Medtronic Game Changer: Linda Wallenberg | Vikings vs. Bears

Sunday's Medtronic Game Changer was Linda Wallenberg. Now in her 50th year of teaching, Linda is an English teacher at Eden Prairie High School and is the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Prior to this award, she was also named Eden Prairie Teacher of the Year three times, named National Gymnastics Coach of the Year twice, awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, awarded a Distinguished Alumni Citation For Excellence and Contributions in Teaching and Coaching Gymnastics by Gustavus Adolphus College, and the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award by the College of Education and Human Development from the University of Minnesota.

During Sunday's Miller Lite Military Spotlite, the Vikings honored Chief Master Sergeant Lisa Erikson. Lisa is the Command Chief for the 148th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, Duluth, Minn. She served as the Adjutant General's advisor for all matters relating to the enlisted forces that may affect training, utilization, health of the force and enlisted professional development. She is the first female Air force leader to hold the role and is only the second woman ever to have this role. This month, she will be retiring after 37 years of service.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Cris Carter during the Week 11 game against the Bears.

Sunday's Medtronic Game Changer was Patriot Assistance Dogs. Founded in 2010 and based in Detroit Lakes, Patriot Assistance Dogs is a nonprofit organization with a powerful mission: to support United States military veterans by providing them with highly trained psychiatric service dogs. Around 80 percent of the dogs they train come from shelters, humane societies, or are donated by individuals and the program has already placed over 200 service dog teams. Each year, about 20 more veterans are matched with their canine partners.

During Sunday's Miller Lite Military Spotlite, the Vikings honored Vurgess Jones, the mother of Aaron Jones. Vurgess served 27 years in the United States Army and was deployed multiple times, including to the Iraqi War when Aaron was in second grade. She retired in 2016 as a sergeant major. Her late husband, Alvin Jones, Sr., also served in the U.S Army for 29 years.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Anthony Harris during the Week 10 game against the Ravens.

As part of the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative, the halftime of the Minnesota Vikings Week 7 game featured a performance by Abraham Westlund and shared the brave stories of 6-year-old Oakley and 7-year-old Viola and honored those who have been impacted by cancer.

Sunday's Medtronic Game Changer was Kirsten Scheller. At age 22, Kirsten was diagnosed with stage 3, almost stage 4 colorectal cancer after being misdiagnosed for three years. After many surgeries and intense chemo treatment, she is now 13 years cancer free and advocates for regular colon screening, including routine colonoscopies with recent additional support from Medtronic's GI Genius tool.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Jordan Hicks during the Week 7 game against the Eagles.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Steve Jordan during the Week 3 game against the Bengals.

Sunday's Medtronic Game Changer was James Lewis. James serves as Chief Program Officer at The Link, a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by former Minnesota Vikings players Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed. With over 20 years of experience supporting youth in crisis, James plays a key leadership role in overseeing programs that address youth homelessness, juvenile justice, and sex trafficking. His expertise in crisis response, conflict de-escalation, and youth engagement has helped countless young people with justice system involvement, find stable housing, and access life-saving support.

Watch the Vikings 2025 Corgi Classic race from halftime of the Week 3 game against the Bengals.

Watch as Miycol Jones, the granddaughter of the late Jim Marshall, sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to the Vikings vs. Bengals game. Jim Marshall was a defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings who passed away earlier this year.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Chad Greenway during the Sunday Night Football game against the Falcons.

Watch the full halftime ceremony from the Week 2 Sunday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons as Vikings Legend Jared Allen received his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring.

Vikings Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen led the Skol Chant and sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to the Week 2 Sunday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett spoke with Vikings Legend Stu Voight during the recent game against the Texans.

Saturday's Medtronic Game Changer was Brittany Beaulieu. Brittany has been a Special Olympics Minnesota athlete for over 16 years. In that time, she has also taken on roles as a coach and advocate, working to promote inclusion and expand opportunities in sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She encourages others to support the movement by volunteering with Special Olympics Minnesota and helping build a more inclusive community through sport.

Watch as Vikings Season Ticket Member Bonnie Shea sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to the game vs. the Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Watch this important stadium information video before heading to U.S. Bank Stadium on gameday to see your Minnesota Vikings.

Former Twin and HOF'er Joe Mauer sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to the recent game against the Bears.

Monday's Hometown Heroes was Teri Hansen. Teri and her husband Jeremy are middle-class parents and after being hit with COVID-19, a layoff, and a cancer diagnosis, Teri's chemotherapy nurse suggested she try reaching out to The Salvation Army. Teri was able to find the food resources her family needed and one day, while in the drive-through food line, an employee approached her and asked her to share her story, which inspired over 3,000 donations in the month of March, raising over $600,000. Today, Teri's cancer is back for the third time and in a new location, but The Salvation Army continues to be a refuge for her family throughout tough times.

Vikings.com's Tatum Everett talked with Vikings Legends Cris Carter and Jake Reed during the recent game against the Bears.

Vikings Legends Cris Carter and Jake Reed support their former teammate, Vikings Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who announced he was diagnosed with cancer. Carter and Reed were honorary captains and carried Moss' jersey to the coin toss prior to the Vikings Week 15 Monday Night Football matchup against the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Minnesota Vikings recognized the 2024 All-State team, made up of the state's premiere senior prospects, is selected by a committee of sportswriters, broadcasters, Vikings staff, and Minnesota high school football coaches, during the recent game against the Falcons.