Over the course of the last decade, the Minneota football team has faced as high of expectations as perhaps any team in the state. That was especially true entering its 2025 campaign, with the Vikings entering the year on the back of four consecutive Prep Bowl appearances and three consecutive state titles.

Last year, the Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner was Defensive End Arik Armstead of the Jacksonville Jaguars. CJ Ham hopes to join Madieu Williams as the only Vikings ever to win the award, as Williams won in 2010.

With the Chicago Bears defeating the Cleveland Browns earlier this afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.The Vikings needed a lot of things to go right to close out 2025 to even consider making the big dance.