Sometimes NFL players decide to call it a career earlier than most. On Thursday, one Minnesota Vikings player did just that, retiring at the age of just 26.

Tight End Ben Ellefson, who played his college football in Fargo for North Dakota State, officially announced his retirement from the game on Thursday.

Here's the official tweet that came from the Minnesota Vikings Twitter page:

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Over the course of his 4-year pro career, Ellefson recorded 4 catches for 36 yards for two different teams.

He made the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent back in 2020, and joined the Vikings in 2021.

The Hawley, Minnesota native had a tremendous amount of success in college at North Dakota State, hauling in 15 passes for 199 yards and 5 scores as a Senior.

Ellefson's retirement leaves the Vikings with a total of 5 Tight Ends on the roster: TJ Hockenson, Johnny Mundt, Josh Oliver, Ben Sims and Nick Muse.

Sources: Ben Ellefson Wikipedia and Minnesota Vikings on Twitter

Ten Most Disappointing Minnesota Sports Seasons

The 2021 Minnesota Twins entered the season with high expectations, but unfortunately, they've made the list of most disappointing Minnesota teams of all time.

Disappointment is a common feeling for Minnesota sports fans as the years continue. Following the NBA Championship win for Milwaukee, SportsCenter was quick to point out that Minnesota has the current longest streak of seasons without a championship appearance in the four major sports (MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL). The Minnesota Lynx also chimed in on the stat after claiming four championships since 2011.

The ten teams that are on this list all follow a similar pattern. The year prior was either a great season with a playoff run or one that featured a strong core of players that appeared to have taken the next step. Offseason/preseason expectations were high with even Las Vegas oddsmakers believing in a deep run. Unfortunately, those preseason expectations fell short for the following teams. None of the teams listed below made the playoffs.


 

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