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Vikings Center Ryan Kelly Retires After 10 NFL Seasons

His decision creates roughly $8.4 million in cap space for Minnesota, which now faces a vacancy at center following a concussion-marred year.

Overview

  • Kelly, 32, announced his retirement on March 6 via a post on X after a decade in the NFL.
  • He had six documented concussions in his career, including three in 2025 with Minnesota that limited him to eight games and led to injured reserve.
  • A 2016 first-round pick by the Colts, Kelly earned four Pro Bowl selections and a 2020 second-team All-Pro nod across nine seasons in Indianapolis.
  • He joined the Vikings on a two-year, $18 million deal in 2025; his retirement clears about $8.3–$8.4 million from the team’s 2026 salary cap.
  • Minnesota now must identify a new starter at center, with Michael Jurgens and Blake Brandel in-house options as the team also weighs free agency or the draft.