The Minnesota Vikings have suddenly found themselves with quite a bit of work on their plate. After a quiet start to the offseason, the Vikings surprisingly decided to fire general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last week. Now, the team will have to find a proper replacement for the leader of its front office, which is certainly something they likely weren’t planning on having to do just a couple of weeks ago.
Whoever ends up becoming Minnesota’s next general manager is going to have their work cut out for them, as the team needs to figure out what its quarterback position is going to look like in 2026 and beyond. On Tuesday, another major hole opened up on the roster when veteran fullback C.J. Ham made a major announcement regarding his future in the NFL.
C.J. Ham Retires After Nine-Year Career with Vikings
Ham didn’t hear his name called in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he managed to latch on with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, and the rest was history. Ham won the team’s starting fullback job out of training camp, and that’s a position he’s held for the past nine seasons, making him an important piece of the Vikings’ offense.
As a fullback, Ham never racked up gaudy numbers, as he finished his career with just 84 carries for 681 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching 42 passes for 119 yards and six more scores. His ability to make an impact when given the football, though, while also operating as a key blocker, helped him earn recognition as one of the top fullbacks in the league. As a result, Ham earned Pro Bowl selections in both 2019 and 2023.
Ham entered the 2025 campaign knowing that he was approaching the end of his career, and by the time the season wrapped up, it seemed pretty clear that his time in the NFL was over. Sure enough, on Tuesday afternoon, Ham announced that he is retiring from the game of football after spending his entire nine-year career with the Vikings.
“Congrats on an amazing career, CJ! We couldn’t be more proud of you,” Team IFA, Ham’s agency, shared in a post on Instagram.
Vikings Must Work on Finding a Replacement for C.J. Ham
GettyC.J. Ham #30 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The fullback position is not nearly as important as it once was in the NFL, but Ham proved that when you have the right player filling the spot, it can provide your offense with a big boost. Ham was a pillar of consistency for the Vikings’ offense during his time with the team, as he could always be counted on to do whatever was asked of him when he found his way onto the field.
While it isn’t going to be Minnesota’s most pressing order of business this offseason, it will have to find a proper replacement for Ham now that he’s gone, as utilizing a fullback has become a key piece of the team’s offense. Of course, that is going to be easier said than done, but that’s a testament to what Ham managed to do during his time with the Vikings.
Vikings 2-Time Pro Bowler Announces Major Career Decision