Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Blake Proehl has faced significant challenges, including life altering injuries as an NFL football player. But all that struggle helped him discover a new passion for music. And now, the 28-year-old from Greensboro NC is slated to appear on the upcoming season of American Idol.
Former Minnesota Vikings WR Blake Proehl on American Idol
Proehl was signed by the Vikings as an unrestricted free agent, following the 2021 NFL Draft. He was waived after two seasons, in August 2023. Soon after, he ventured to Hollywood with his grandma by his side, after he found his way onto one of the most iconic talent shows in TV history.
Pop icon Katy Perry is serving as one of the American Idol judges this season. In the clip above, she suggests he is Top 10, if he continues to perform at his current level. Proehl credits his grandmother for his success and insisted she be present during his final tryout. He performed “In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young.
Proehl did not have the opportunity to play a game for the Vikings during his two seasons, due to the devastating knee injury he talks about in the video above, which caused him to be on injured reserve for all of 2021 and a month of 2022.
During his rehabilitation, however, Black was able to discover his passion for music, gaining attention when a song he posted with his grandma went viral on TikTok with almost 4 million likes. In March 2022, he released his debut single “Falling Into You.“
@blakeproehl A moment I’ll never forget I love you Nana. #givingszn #reaction? #incaseyoudidntknow ♬ original sound – Blake Proehl
Former teammates Kirk Cousins and Adam Thielen reunited to watch the show together. Kirk’s wife, Julie Cousins, shared a video on her Instagram story featuring herself and Kirk alongside Adam Thielen and his wife, Caitlin.
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