Eric Wilson (linebacker, born 1994) facts for kids

Eric André Wilson (born September 26, 1994) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). Eric played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats and the Cincinnati Bearcats. He joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, meaning he wasn't chosen in the main draft but was signed afterward. He has also played for other NFL teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and New Orleans Saints.

Early Life and High School Football

Eric Wilson grew up in Redford, Michigan. He played high school football at Lee M. Thurston High School. During his senior year, he made 64 tackles and had four sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

Eric played several positions in high school, including safety, linebacker, and wide receiver. He was recognized as one of the best players in his area. He also played basketball and was a State Champion in the long jump for track and field.

College Football Career

Eric started his college football journey at Northwestern University in 2012. He was "redshirted" that year, which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in any games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his playing eligibility.

In 2013, Eric transferred to the University of Cincinnati. He played for the Cincinnati Bearcats from 2013 to 2016. He had to sit out the 2013 season because of NCAA transfer rules, which require players to wait a year after transferring.

Eric became a standout player at Cincinnati. He was named Second-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2015. The next year, in 2016, he was named First-team All-AAC, showing he was one of the best players in his conference. He played in 38 games during his college career, starting 24 of them. Eric earned his degree in sports management in December 2016.

Professional Football Journey

Joining the NFL

Before the 2017 NFL draft, experts thought Eric Wilson was one of the top outside linebackers. Even though he wasn't drafted, the Minnesota Vikings signed him on May 1, 2017. This was his first step into the NFL.

The table above shows some of the physical tests Eric performed before the NFL draft. These tests measure a player's speed, strength, and agility.

First Time with the Minnesota Vikings

Eric made his first career sack in 2018 against the Chicago Bears. A sack is a big play where a defensive player tackles the opposing quarterback.

In the 2019 season, Eric had two sacks against the Oakland Raiders in a big win. Later that season, he had 12 tackles and another sack against the Chicago Bears.

In 2020, the Vikings kept Eric by offering him a special contract. That year, he got his first career interception against the Indianapolis Colts. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He also had a sack and another interception against the Seattle Seahawks. In a game against the Green Bay Packers, Eric recovered a fumble, which helped the Vikings win. A fumble is when a player drops the ball.

Playing for Other Teams

After his first time with the Vikings, Eric played for a few other NFL teams.

• Philadelphia Eagles: He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in April 2021. He started some games as a middle linebacker before leaving the team in November.
• Houston Texans: The Houston Texans then picked him up in November 2021.
• New Orleans Saints: In May 2022, Eric signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was later released but then joined their practice squad.

Green Bay Packers

In October 2022, the Green Bay Packers signed Eric from the Saints' practice squad. He made a big play in a game against the New York Jets by blocking a punt. Blocking a punt can give your team a great advantage on the field.

Eric re-signed with the Packers in March 2023. In the 2023 playoffs, he recovered a fumble against the San Francisco 49ers. He signed with the Packers again in March 2024. In Week 3 of the 2024 season, he had an amazing game against the Indianapolis Colts. He forced a fumble, made a tackle for loss, and had an interception, earning a very high performance grade.

Return to the Minnesota Vikings

On March 14, 2025, Eric Wilson signed with the Minnesota Vikings again. This marks his second time playing for the team where he started his NFL career.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games