Vikings Sign 13-Year Veteran Kyle Van Noy to Bolster Edge Rusher Depth

Minnesota agreed to terms with 35-year-old linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who owns 57 career sacks and two Super Bowl rings.

The Minnesota Vikings reached an agreement Tuesday night to sign outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, a 13-year veteran who enters the roster with 57 career sacks across 173 regular-season games. The 35-year-old edge rusher joins the team following a season with the Baltimore Ravens where he recorded just two sacks, a decline from his 2024 Pro Bowl campaign in which he tallied a career-high 12½ sacks. This signing addresses a depth chart recently thinned by the trade of Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April and a season-ending knee injury sustained by second-year prospect Tyler Batty during the final preseason game on Friday.

Van Noy arrives in Minneapolis to support a starting rotation led by Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. While the starters are considered dynamic, the remaining depth consists of unproven talent including 2024 undrafted free agent Bo Richter and 2025 undrafted free agent Chaz Chambliss. Additionally, the Vikings roster features second-round pick Jake Golday, a rookie primarily utilized at inside linebacker who was selected for his potential to transition into an edge-rushing role similar to that of Van Ginkel.

Reunion with Brian Flores and New England History

This move reunites Van Noy with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who previously served as his position coach during a successful tenure with the New England Patriots. Between 2016 and 2018, Van Noy participated in three consecutive Super Bowls, securing two championships. His postseason productivity peaked in 2018, when he registered three sacks and a forced fumble over a three-game playoff stretch. The veteran also played under Flores in 2020 during the latter's time as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Originally a second-round selection out of BYU by the Detroit Lions in 2014, Van Noy has become a journeyman in recent years. The Vikings represent his fifth different team in a seven-year span. Following his initial stint in New England, he moved to Miami in 2020, returned to the Patriots in 2021, and spent the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Chargers before his three-year tenure in Baltimore.

Statistical Trends and Roster Impact

Van Noy’s production in the previous season snapped a six-year streak of recording at least five sacks per year. Despite the recent struggle to generate consistent pressure, his veteran experience is intended to stabilize a unit that lost significant veteran presence during the offseason. The trade of Greenard was executed specifically to generate salary cap savings, leaving the edge position reliant on younger, less experienced players before this Tuesday night agreement.

Minnesota is preparing for a regular-season opener at home against the Green Bay Packers. That NFC North rivalry matchup is scheduled for September 13. Van Noy is expected to provide immediate relief to a rotation that had been narrowed to Richter and Chambliss as the primary backups. The team is looking to leverage his 13 years of NFL experience to mentor the younger undrafted free agents and the rookie Golday as they navigate the upcoming schedule.