Jim Kleinsasser

Jim Kleinsasser
refer to caption
Kleinsasser in 2009
No. 40
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1977-01-31) January 31, 1977 (age 47)
Carrington, North Dakota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:272 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High school:Carrington
College:North Dakota (1995–1998)
NFL draft:1999 / round: 2 / pick: 44
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team DII All-American (1997, 1998)
  • 3× First-team All-NCC (1996–1998)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:192
Receiving yards:1,688
Receiving touchdowns:6
Stats at Pro Football Reference


Jimmy Carter Kleinsasser (/ˈklaɪnsɑːsər/; born January 31, 1977) is an American former football tight end who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and played for the Vikings his entire career after being selected in the 1999 NFL draft.

High school career

Kleinsasser attended Carrington High School, in Carrington, North Dakota and was a letterman and a standout in football, basketball, and track & field. In football, he was a two time All-Region honoree and All-State honoree, and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota Player of the Year. At Carrington, Kleinsasser was a starter on the 1995 Class B State Championship basketball team. In track, he has the ND Class B State T&F Meet records for shot put (62 ft, 2 in) and discus throw (183 ft, 11 in).[1]

College career

Kleinsasser attended the University of North Dakota and played for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux from 1995 to 1998 before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999. North Dakota was a NCAA Division II school at the time. At North Dakota, Kleinsasser was a three-time first-team All-North Central Conference (NCC) selection and a two-time Division II All-American, also in 1998 was the only Division II football player selected as a Gannett News Service All-American.[2][1][3] In 1998, Kleinsasser had 45 receptions for 710 yards and 86 rushing yards.[3]

Professional career

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 2+3⁄4 in
(1.90 m) 		272 lb
(123 kg) 		33 in
(0.84 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.78 s 1.69 s 2.77 s 4.33 s 7.24 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		 18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[4]

Kleinsasser was selected as a tight end in the second round (44th overall pick) of the 1999 NFL draft.[5][6][7] He demonstrated remarkable durability throughout his career, playing in all 16 games up to 2010, except for missing 15 games because of an knee injury in 2004.

In 2007 and 2008, Kleinsasser was named to USA Today's All Joe Team honoring hard workers and under-recognized players.[1][8] He continued his 13-year career with the Vikings in the 2011 season. He ranked second in team history for starts made by a tight end with 119, and ranked fourth in catches by a tight end in Vikings history. His blocking skills also paved the way for seven of the top eight single-season rushing marks in Vikings history, including Adrian Peterson's then team record and NFL leading 1,760 yards in 2008. Kleinsasser retired at the end of the 2011 NFL season after 13 seasons with the Vikings.[9]

In the movie 50 First Dates, Kleinsasser is mentioned by Sean Astin's character briefly before Kleinsasser scores a touchdown on the TV.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Jim Kleinsasser". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved December 17, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Jim Kleinsasser". fightinghawks.com. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Kleinsasser Honored". University of North Dakota. December 2, 1998. Archived from the original on December 3, 1998.
  4. ^ "1999 NFL Draft Scout Jim Kleinsasser College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "Jim Kleinsasser Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Offensive Player Profile of the Week: Jim Kleinsasser : Minnesota Vikings". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "Recent news on Jim Kleinsasser - Minnesota Vikings - Rotoworld.com". www.rotoworld.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012.
  9. ^ "Jim Kleinsasser will retire at the end of the year". December 23, 2011.