Ben Gedeon

American football player (born 1994)

American football player
Ben Gedeon
refer to caption
Gedeon playing for Michigan in 2016
No. 42
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-10-16) October 16, 1994 (age 29)
Hudson, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Hudson (Hudson, Ohio)
College:Michigan (2013–2016)
NFL draft:2017 / Round: 4 / Pick: 120
Career history
  • Minnesota Vikings (2017–2020)
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:103
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Benjamin Gedeon (born October 16, 1994) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Michigan and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

College career

Gedeon appeared in 51 games and made 14 starting assignments at linebacker, ultimately recording 176 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 21 tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups. As a senior, he posted a career best 106 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass breakups. Following the 2016 season, Gedeon was named to the All-Big Ten Conference defensive second-team by the media.[1]

College statistics

Michigan Wolverines
Season Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Total Solo Ast Sck Tfl PDef Int Yards Avg Lng TDs FF FR FR Yds TDs
2013 19 9 10 1.0 1.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 17 12 5 1.0 1.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 34 21 13 0.0 3.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 94 39 55 4.5 15.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NCAA Career Totals 164 81 83 6.5 20.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Professional career

Pre-draft

Gedeon was ranked as the No. 9 inside linebacker in the 2017 NFL draft by CBSSports.com and was projected to go in the fourth or fifth round according to NFL.com.[2] Gedeon was one of the top performers at the 2017 NFL Combine. Gedeon finished atop all linebackers in the bench press, lifting 225 pounds 27 times. He also tied for the best 20-yard shuttle (4.13 seconds), was third in the 60-yard shuttle (11.58 seconds), had the seventh-best vertical jump (34.5 inches), was ninth in the 3-cone drill (6.98 seconds) and was twelfth with a 119-inch broad jump.[3]

External videos
video icon Gedeon performing at the 2017 NFL Combine
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in
(1.87 m) 		244 lb
(111 kg) 		32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.75 s 1.66 s 2.77 s 4.13 s 6.98 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		 27 reps
All values from NFL Combine[4]

2017

The Minnesota Vikings selected Gedeon in fourth round (120th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[5][6] He was the first of two linebackers drafted by the Vikings in 2017, along with Elijah Lee.[7] On May 26, 2017, the Vikings signed a Gedeon to a four-year, $3.03 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $633,147.[8]

External videos
video icon Gedeon gets drafted by the Vikings

Throughout training camp, Gedeon competed against Emmanuel Lamur, Edmond Robinson, Elijah Lee, and Kentrell Brothers for the job as the starting weakside linebacker after it was left vacant due to the retirement of Chad Greenway.[9] Head coach Mike Zimmer named Gedeon the starting weakside linebacker, along with Anthony Barr and middle linebacker Eric Kendricks.[10]

He made his regular season debut and first career start in the Vikings' season-opener against the New Orleans Saints and recorded a solo tackle during their 29–19 victory. On December 31, 2017, Gedeon collected a season-high six combined tackles in the Vikings' 23–10 win against the Chicago Bears. Gedeon finished his rookie season with 37 combined tackles (23 solo) in 16 games and nine starts.[11]

The Minnesota Vikings finished first in the NFC North with a 13–3 record and received a first round bye. On January 14, 2018, Gedeon played in first career playoff game and assisted on one tackle in a 29–24 victory against the Saints in the NFC Divisional round. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles who became the eventual Super Bowl LII Champions.[12]

2018

Gedeon entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. Head coach Mike Zimmer named Gedeon and Anthony Barr the starting outside linebackers. They started alongside middle linebacker Kendricks.[13] In Week 14, he collected a season-high nine combined tackles during a 21–7 loss at the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the season with 53 combined tackles (29 solo) and two pass deflections in 15 games and eight starts.[11]

2019

Gedeon opened the 2019 season as a starting linebacker for the Vikings. He played in eight games with five starts before suffering a concussion in Week 11. He was placed on injured reserve on December 2, 2019.[14]

2020

Gedeon was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list (PUP) at the start of training camp on August 3, 2020.[15] He was moved to the reserve/PUP list to start the regular season on September 5.[16] He was waived with a failed physical designation on November 10, 2020.[17]

Career statistics

Season Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Year Team GP GS Comb Total Ast Sck PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FF FR
2017 Minnesota Vikings 16 9 37 23 14 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2018 Minnesota Vikings 15 8 53 29 24 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2019 Minnesota Vikings 8 5 13 8 5 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Total 39 22 103 60 43 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Peppers, Lewis Lead All 11 Defenders Honored by B1G". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "Ben Gedeon Draft profile". NFL.com. April 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  3. ^ Wolverines' Ben Gedeon impresses with NFL combine testing
  4. ^ "Ben Gedeon Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Quartet of Wolverines Go So Far on Third Day of NFL Draft". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  6. ^ "Vikings Select Michigan LB Ben Gedeon". Vikings.com. April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "Spotrac.com: Ben Gedeon contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Borman, Sean (June 7, 2017). "Zimmer Confirms Open Competition at Will Linebacker". vikingsterritory.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  10. ^ Horstman, Terry (September 5, 2017). "Vikings first depth chart features 3 rookies in starting roles". vikingswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "NFL Player stats: Ben Gedeon (career)". NFL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "NFL Player stats: Ben Gedeon (2017)". NFL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  13. ^ "Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart". KFgO.com. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  14. ^ Gantt, Darin (December 2, 2019). "Vikings putting Ben Gedeon on IR". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  15. ^ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves to Set Roster at 80 Players". Vikings.com. August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  16. ^ Peters, Craig and Eric Smith (September 5, 2020). "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Vikings.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "Vikings Activate LB Todd Davis from Reserve/COVID-19; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. November 10, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ben Gedeon.
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Minnesota Vikings 2017 NFL draft selections