EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings defensive line will be under new leadership this season.
Minnesota announced the addition of defensive line coach Chris Rumph to the staff last week in its first wave of assistant coaching hires.
The 50-year-old will serve under new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.
Most recently, Rumph worked as the Chicago Bears defensive line coach in 2021.
Rumph coached a bruising Bears line that included Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings new defensive line coach:
1. Former linebacker
Rumph starred as a linebacker at South Carolina, where he totaled 141 career tackles for the Gamecocks.
On Jan. 2,1995, he helped lead South Carolina to the first bowl victory in school history (the Carquest Bowl).
Rumph graduated with his bachelor's degree 1994.
2. Big-time collegiate coaching
Rumph has spent the majority of his coaching career in the collegiate ranks, where he's worked for some big-time schools.
He got his start as a graduate assistant at South Carolina in 1997. Rumph then coached at Calhoun County High School (1997-2000) before getting a job at South Carolina State as the defensive backs coach. Below is the full collegiate coaching journey Rumph traveled:
Memphis 2003-05 (Outside Linebackers)
Clemson 2006-10 (Defensive Ends)
Alabama 2011-13 (Defensive Line)
Texas 2014 (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line)
Florida 2015-16 (Defensive Line)
Florida 2017 (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line)
Tennessee 2018-19 (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers)
3. Jump to the NFL
In 2020, Rumph received his first NFL coaching job when he was hired by the Texans to lead Houston's outside linebackers.
Rumph was hired by Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy in 2021. When Nagy was relieved of his duties following last season, however, Rumph was not retained.
4. Like father, like son
Rumph and his wife Kila have two sons, Christopher Rumph II and Elijah.
"When I was growing up, the rule that [my dad] had was that I wasn't allowed to play football until high school," Christopher told The Duke Chronicle. "Even when I got to high school, I was more of a basketball and baseball player. I just started playing football because I got tired of baseball, I just kind of didn't want to play."
As it turns out, he excelled on the football field.
Christopher played defensive end at Duke, where he was a two-time All-ACC selection. In 36 games (12 starts), he compiled 125 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five passes defensed and 18 quarterback pressures.
Christopher was drafted 118th overall in 2021 by the Chargers, for whom he is playing outside linebacker.
5. South Carolina native
When Rumph played for South Carolina, he was a hometown kid.
He grew up in St. Matthews, South Carolina, and shares an alma mater (Calhoun County) with former Pro Bowl receiver Alshon Jeffery.
St. Matthews is also the hometown of Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis.
