T.J. Hockenson had a good first half-season in Purple, and so did the Vikings.
Hockenson congratulated the Vikings’ ownership group, team leadership, his family, fiancé, and agent for their involvement.
“It’s just been an incredible year to be here, be a part of the Minnesota Vikings, be a part of this organization, and really be a part of this city,” Hockenson said after Thursday’s practice. “Being here with these fans is just fantastic.
“It’s truly a good fit for me here, and I’ve known that since day one,” he says. “I’ve told you and the fans from the beginning that this is where I want to be long-term. And to be able to move forward and make aspirations a reality is fantastic. So, first and foremost, I’m thrilled to be here.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Vikings General Manager, revealed the agreement at the commencement of a media session with Head Coach Kevin O’Connell on Thursday morning.
“I’m excited about it. He fits into our society. “He’s the type of player we want here in Minnesota,” Adofo-Mensah stated. “I’m really excited to have it done. I’d want to thank his representatives, Kevin, Rob [Brzezinski, Executive Vice President of Football Operations], and Emily [Badis, Manager of Football Administration]. Many folks in this building work late into the night.
As they often do after more than a year of working together, O’Connell picked up where Adofo-Mensah left off and continued the thought.
“I’m excited to have T.J. as a key part of our offensive core,” O’Connell said. “When we acquired him last season, we hoped we were bringing in a player who would become a major contributor to our offense moving forward.”
“We saw the immediate impact he had over those 10 or 11 games,” O’Connell added. “We’ve been able to build on T.J.’s role and have had a great process this offseason to integrate him into our offensive system. With our young core and our quarterback coming out of training camp, I’m really excited about where our offense is headed.”
The new deal means the “speculation season” about Hockenson’s future with the team can end, and the focus can shift to the 2023 regular season, where he’s expected to play a significant role in Minnesota’s passing game.
The Vikings, who traded for Hockenson on Nov. 1 and targeted him nine times just five days later (resulting in nine catches for 70 yards at Washington), had long-term plans for him, and for good reason.
After quickly adjusting to the team, Hockenson totaled 60 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns on 86 targets in 10 games (seven starts) with Minnesota. He played 90% or more of the offensive snaps in six games and at least 77% in nine games. The only exception was the season finale at Chicago when the Vikings limited starters’ playtime.
Hockenson set an NFL record for receptions by a tight end in his first four games with a new team, with 26 catches. His 60 receptions over the last 10 weeks of 2022 were second only to Travis Kelce’s 63 for tight ends.
A native of Chariton, Iowa, Hockenson had an outstanding performance against the Giants in Week 16, catching 13 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
His 13 catches:
- Were the most by an NFL tight end in a game in 2022.
- Set a record for the most catches by a Vikings tight end in a game.
- Tied for 13th all-time by a tight end since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
- Tied for fourth among all Vikings in a single game.
- Were the most by a Vikings player in a game the team won.
It was one of three games in 2022 where Hockenson recorded over 100 receiving yards. He set a career-high 179 yards for Detroit at Seattle in Week 4, becoming the NFL’s first tight end to record more than 175 yards, catch two touchdowns, and score a 2-point conversion in a single game.
He also caught 10 passes for 129 yards on 11 targets in Minnesota’s playoff loss to the Giants.
Hockenson was entering 2023 under a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which the Lions extended in April 2022. Detroit had drafted him No. 8 overall in 2019 out of Iowa. He began his career with a record-setting 131-yard game at Arizona in his debut.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2020 and 2023), Hockenson has played 57 regular-season games, starting 49. He has accumulated 2,587 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 246 receptions.
O’Connell, who admired Hockenson from afar early in his career, gained an even greater appreciation for him when he worked with quarterback Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles in 2021. O’Connell frequently saw Hockenson on film while studying Stafford’s later years in Detroit.
“I always saw T.J. making plays on film with Stafford, especially in our passing game,” O’Connell said. “T.J. is a dynamic, route-running tight end who can win against linebackers and safeties in one-on-one situations. We can move him around the formation, and he’s a complete player who can contribute in the run and pass games. As I often tell him, ‘Most of the time we’re dropping back to pass, but sometimes you’ll need to block as part of the run-pass balance.'”
“The best part about T.J. is that he does everything we ask of him,” O’Connell added. “He’s capable of doing anything, and when you pair him with the other tight ends, you’ve got a well-rounded group ready to attack in a variety of ways.”
Though Hockenson was somewhat limited in training camp, he worked on the side fields when the Vikings hosted Arizona for joint practices. O’Connell said he was “pretty close” to fully participating in Wednesday’s practice, and the plan is to continue progressing him in time for the season opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 10.
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