FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE VIKINGS SELECTED TO THE 2020

Smith named to fifth consecutive Pro Bowl Hunter earns second consecutive Pro Bowl honor Cook garners first career Pro Bowl nod

Eagan, Minn. (December 17, 2019) – Vikings safety Harrison Smith, and have been selected by players, fans and coaches to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl. Cook and Smith were both named as starters.

Cook is selected to his first Pro Bowl after leading the fan voting as the top non- among vote-getters. With 1,135 rushing yards through 14 games, Cook is the eighth player in Vikings history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, and the first since did so in 2015. Cook is also just the fourth player in franchise history to score 13 or more rushing in a single season. The Florida State product, who ranks third in the NFL with 1,654 yards from scrimmage, was named Week 10 NFC Offensive Player of the Week at Dallas and FedEx Ground Player of the week twice, in Week 2 at Green Bay and Week 7 at Detroit.

Hunter, who is tied for third in the NFL in sacks with 13.5, has earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod in his fifth season. With 47.5 sacks, Hunter has the third-most sacks in the NFL since the start of the 2016 season. He recorded 48.0 sacks prior to turning 25 years of age, an NFL record since sacks became an official stat in 1982, and became the youngest player (25 years and 40 days) to eclipse 50.0 career sacks, doing so in the Week 14 matchup against Detroit. The Katy, Texas, native earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for that effort. Hunter ranks in the top five in total tackles (65), sacks (13.5), sack yards (112.5) TFLs (14) and QBHs (21) at his position in the NFL.

Smith, with 80 total tackles, three interceptions, two forced , two recoveries, three tackles for loss and 1.0 sack on the season, is one of the most versatile safeties in the league. His 11 passes defensed ranks third among NFL safeties. The Notre Dame product has been named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl a week after surpassing Antoine Winfield for third-most tackles by a Vikings defensive back in team history. The eighth-year veteran trails only Paul Krause (six) and Joey Browner (six – one as a special teamer) for the most Pro Bowl selections among Vikings safeties.

The 2020 Pro Bowl kicks off at 2:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, January 26 and will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ABC and Disney XD – the third time the game will be available on both broadcast and cable networks.

For the fourth consecutive year, Pro Bowl Week festivities will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort and across the Orlando area, bringing free experiences and activities to fans as well as an extraordinary number of events focused on commemorating all levels of football – from youth to high school to the NFL's best. Some of the Pro Bowl Week events include: Pro Bowl Practices, Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, NFL FLAG Championships and Pro Bowl Experience.

Additionally, NFL Pro Bowl players will give back to the local Orlando community by participating in the Pro Bowl Community Huddle as part of the NFL Huddle for 100. To learn more about Huddle for 100 and how to get involved, visit www.nfl.com/100/huddlefor100.

More information about these and all of the events taking place during Pro Bowl Week is available at ProBowl.com.

VIKINGS PRO BOWLERS UNDER MIKE ZIMMER Anthony Barr, LB 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Teddy Bridgewater, QB 2015 Dalvin Cook, RB 2019 , DE 2015, 2016, 2017 Danielle Hunter, DE 2018, 2019 Linval Joseph, DT 2016, 2017 , RS 2016 Adrian Peterson, RB 2015 Harrison Smith, S 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 , CB 2016, 2017 Adam Thielen, WR 2017, 2018

QUOTES Running Back Dalvin Cook

On his thoughts being selected: A big accomplishment, a shout-out to all of my teammates and the o-linemen and everybody that contributed to me getting to this point.

On validation after injuries: Yeah, like I always said, it was getting myself in tip-top shape to get ready to tote the football. I’ve been working extra hard and battling back from a lot of things, so that’s where we’re at today.

On what made it such a successful year for him: Just buying into everything the coaches and the whole system is set up for me. Whatever they had set up for me, it was just buying in to what they had going on each and every week.

On being named the top non-QB vote getter: Shout-out to them, just for thinking of me so highly and as one of those top players in the NFL. I appreciate everybody that voted. Thank you.

Defensive End Danielle Hunter

On his thoughts being selected again: I was pretty excited. He [Rick Spielman] told me a lot about what my peers, my teammates, other coaches and my coaches thought about my play and that they respected me. It’s an honor to be able to be a part of the Pro Bowl again for the second time in a row.

On what it means for him to go with Harrison Smith and Dalvin Cook: With Harrison [Smith], it shows we’ve been doing our part on defense. But it’s not just us. There’s a whole bunch of other guys on our defense that deserve to be in the Pro Bowl as well. It just means a lot to us because of what others think of us and people respecting our play. It’s an honor but the main goal is the last game of the season.

On if the Pro Bowl nod reflects on his teammates and coaches who have helped you: Definitely. Ever since I came in, Everson [Griffen], B-Rob [Brian Robison], L.J. [Linval Joseph], Coach Rob [Rodriguez] and Andre Patterson, they paved the way for all the things that are happening now in my life. I became a student of the game and they took me under their wing and coached me up. It’s year five now and I am just going out there and I am just playing with the fundamentals that they taught me and all the things that I’ve learned from all of those guys. I am thankful for that. It’s a blessing.

Safety Harrison Smith

On reaction to being selected again: It’s always great to be recognized by players, fans, coaches, and it’s really a tribute to the Vikings being such a great organization. They kind of help you get to that success. Personal accolades are great, but it’s not really what the game’s about. I think there’s a bunch of guys on our team that should be in there. It’s cool, but we’ve still got other things to do.

On respect from Vikings fans and peers around the league: That’s the part I appreciate. Whether it’s fans, players around the league, coaches, recognizing what we do on Sundays. But like we talked about, you can’t be successful by yourself. I’ve got a lot of good players in front of me and to the sides of me that make my job easier.

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