Earlier on Wednesday, it appeared that former Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks could be becoming a member of the San Francisco 49ers for the 2024 season.

The presumed signing was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, who tweeted, “49ers are signing former Chargers LB Eric Kendricks to a one-year deal, per supply. Kendricks was a Chargers captain final season, when he began 14 video games and completed second on the staff with 117 tackles.”

It made a whole lot of sense for San Francisco to be a touchdown spot for Kendricks. It might enable him to stay in his residence state of California whereas additionally competing for a Tremendous Bowl with the staff that simply gained the NFC Championship a month and a half in the past.

Nevertheless, it seems that Kendricks has modified his thoughts, and it’s for a cause that makes an equal quantity of sense for the linebacker. As an alternative of becoming a member of the 49ers, Kendricks goes to move to Dallas and play for the Cowboys, reuniting together with his former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.

A Reunion of Former Vikings in Dallas

The change of plans was reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Community, who tweeted, “Plot twist! Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks is now anticipated to signal with the #Cowboys, per sources. The #49ers made a powerful supply. However Kendricks is opting to reunite with Mike Zimmer, who will get an skilled LB to assist run his protection.”

Zimmer, who held the Vikings head teaching position for eight seasons, was employed in 2014 to tackle the job of rebuilding in Minnesota. He did that by placing collectively ferocious defenses together with a bruising operating sport, and one of many key items of these groups was Kendricks.

The Vikings chosen Kendricks within the second spherical of the 2015 NFL Draft. Over his eight seasons in Minnesota, Kendricks began 113 video games for the Vikings, recording 919 tackles, 54 TFLs, 15 sacks, 51 PDs, 9 interceptions, 4 pressured fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries.

Throughout the 2019 season, Kendricks was named an All-Professional taking part in in a protection that allowed the fifth-fewest factors within the NFL whereas additionally making the playoffs and claiming an upset Wild Card win in New Orleans.

Sadly, these once-powerful defenses that Zimmer put collectively within the late 2010s started to age out, and in consequence, the Vikings put collectively dropping seasons in each 2020 and 2021. Zimmer was fired following that yr, and a yr later, Minnesota opted to let Kendricks go after the 2022 season as a wage cap casualty.

Zimmer has spent the previous two outdoors of teaching, however he landed the defensive coordinator gig with the Cowboys earlier this offseason. As for Kendricks, he spent the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Now, each coach and participant reunite in Dallas as they attempt to make another run for a Tremendous Bowl along with a staff that has completed every of the previous three seasons with a 12-5 document earlier than disappointing playoff exits.

Editor’s Word: Statistics for this text have been discovered through Pro Football Reference.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The Faculty of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing concerning the NFL, Josh enjoys operating, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Try his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.