EAGAN, Minn. — Former Vikings defensive back Ronyell Whitaker passed away Sunday.
His family issued the following statement:
The Whitaker family is heartbroken to share the passing of our beloved son, brother and friend, Ronyell Deshawn Whitaker, who departed this life on Feb. 22, 2026.
Born on March 19, 1979, Ronyell lived a life marked by passion, perseverance and purpose. A gifted athlete, he proudly played high school football for Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where his talent, determination and leadership on the field made a lasting impact.
Ronyell went on to pursue his professional dreams in the National Football League, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. Throughout his career, he also played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, and he later continued his football journey in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before retiring from professional football in 2010.
His journey didn't end there. He was a defensive backs coach at Chanhassen High School from 2014-18 and was the CEO/Owner of privately-owned Whitaker Group, LLC, specializing in relocation transactions and short sales since 2011.
While many knew him for his athletic accomplishments, those closest to him knew him best for his generous heart, unwavering loyalty and deep love for his family. He was a protector, a mentor and a source of strength and laughter to all who had the blessing of knowing him.
During this incredibly difficult time, we ask for prayers, love and privacy as our family grieves this tremendous loss and celebrates the life of a man who meant so much to so many.
Funeral arrangements and memorial details will be shared in the coming days.
With love,
The Whitaker Family
The tragic news occurred less than a month before Whitaker turned 47 and as the Vikings family was still processing Saturday's passing of 25-year-old Rondale Moore.
As mentioned in the family's statement, Whitaker grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and played college football at Virginia Tech, helping the 1999 Hokies finish as the national runner-up during his freshman season. He played in 47 college games, recording seven interceptions and handled 20 punt returns, including 17 for 245 yards (14.4 avg.) in 2000.
He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 as an undrafted free agent and spent time on the team's practice squad and active roster as a rookie. Whitaker appeared in four regular-season games in his first NFL season.
In 2006, Whitaker joined the Vikings. He appeared in 27 games over the course of two seasons, recording 31 tackles, a pass defended and a fumble recovery for Minnesota.
After spending part of the 2008 offseason with the Lions, Whitaker concluded his career in the CFL.
I had the pleasure of meeting Whitaker in fall 2021 when he, Esera Tuaolo, Ed McDaniel and Robert Blanton joined military members from the Air Force, Army National Guard, Marines and Navy in Hastings to go through United Heroes League’s “Strapped” Confidence Course, which features 18 obstacles designed from basic training experiences.
I've thought about that visit many times over the years. The memories remain so vivid.
Participants dug deep and overcame. They achieved.
Whitaker met the course's challenges with humor and courage.
Here are two excerpts from covering that visit.
The Island Hopper is a series of about 30 stumps in rows of three or four that require strategy and balance to negotiate.
"This one, you pick your logs and choose your path," [retired Army Master Sgt. Guy] Sing said as he zipped through, adding, "It's just that easy."
By now, Whitaker had heard Sing's use of the word "easy" a few times and encountered obstacles that he would not classify with the same terminology.
Everything was likely still burning from "Weaver," the seventh obstacle, which requires going above and below a series of 19 4X4s that have been spaced to form a gable, when Whitaker clapped back jokingly, "That's your favorite word, 'Easy.' It's like, 'It's your first day? Here's Randy Moss and Megatron (Calvin Johnson). Good luck.' "
…
Sing also had a bird's eye view while spotting the participants as they completed the Confidence Climb, which rises 40 feet into the air.
Whitaker has never really lacked confidence.
Once a corner, always a corner.
But football fields stretch horizontally, not vertically, and Whitaker confessed to an overwhelming fear of heights.
Equipped with the purple and white gloves he wore while playing for the Vikings, as well as some patriotic stars and stripes socks, Whitaker began his way up the gigantic ladder. He confronted his fear as people below provided encouragement and Sing gave tips for the important transition over the top rung.
When he firmly put his feet back on the ground, Whitaker trembled as he screamed, "In the famous words of my man Kevin Garnett, anything is possible!"
