Vikings To Release P Johnny Hekker

Former Georgia standout Brett Thorson, an Australian who won the Ray Guy Award in 2025, is set to be the Vikings’ punter. Thorson joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in late April, a little over a month after they brought in Hekker on a one-year, $1.49MM deal. The Vikings guaranteed Hekker over $1.26MM, which will stay on their books as a dead cap charge.

Like Thorson, Hekker entered the NFL as an undrafted player. The Oregon State product signed with the Rams in 2012 and quickly became one of the league’s premier punters. Hekker earned four first-team All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowl nods and a place on the 2010s All-Decade Team during his 10-year run with the Rams. However, a few weeks after the Rams won Super Bowl LVI to cap off the 2021 season, they released Hekker.

When he reached the open market in 2022, Hekker scored a three-year, $7.6MM contract. He played out the deal and averaged a strong 47.0 gross yards per punt and posted a 43.1 net average on 236 punts, though he did not earn any All-Pro or Pro Bowl accolades.

Hekker signed on last year with Tennessee, where he recorded a 46.8-yard gross and a 40.3-yard net on the second-most punts in the league (78). Minnesota saw enough positives to bring in Hekker as a potential replacement for Ryan Wright, who spent his first four seasons with the club and then joined the Saints on a four-year, $14MM deal. Now, a little over five months later, Hekker will return to free agency.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.