EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added to their offensive line room.
Minnesota signed veteran offensive lineman Dalton Risner, the team announced Tuesday.
Risner (pronounced RISE-ner) was a free agent to start the 2023 season, though he did have an official visit with the Vikings in early August. The 28-year-old was drafted 41st overall by Denver in 2019 and spent the 2019-22 seasons with the Broncos, for whom he started all 62 games he played.
He's been impressive throughout the start of his NFL career and was regarded as one of this offseason's top available free agents.
View photos of Vikings G Dalton Risner who the team agreed to terms with on September 18.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest addition.
1. Prior to the pros
Risner shined at Kansas State, where he started 50 of the Wildcats 51 games from 2015-18 and was a three-time team captain.
He played at Wiggins High School under his father, Mitch, who was the team's head coach. He was named one of the Denver Post's top 25 players in the state during the 2013 season, and he was rated as the nation's sixth-best center and Colorado's fifth-best player by Rivals.com.
Risner was selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl and the U-19 International Bowl between Team USA and Canada Football.
In addition to football, he played basketball and threw shot put.
2. Accolades to his name
Risner has a number of high honors on his résumé.
In Denver, he got off to a strong start and made the 2019 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
During his collegiate career, Risner received First-Team All-Big 12 honors three times (2016-18) and in 2018 was named a First-Team All American. He also was named a Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year, sharing the recognition with Oklahoma's Dru Samia, a former Viking, and West Virginia's Yodny Cajuste.
3. Passionate about giving back
Risner provides a gritty presence on the football field and an impactful one off it.
The offensive lineman cares deeply about giving back to the community, and in 2022 he was named the Broncos nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Risner participated in numerous charitable efforts, including hosting events through his own nonprofit, the RisnerUp Foundation, which was created "to positively impact others through loving kindness."
4. Committed to Christian faith
Risner has multiple tattoos, many of which are Bible verses that tell the story of his Christian faith.
"For me and my walk with God and as I've grown, something that was laid on my heart was like, 'Man, I want to wear Him on my sleeve. I want to … have a reminder every single day … Jesus Christ is why I'm where I'm at today,' " Risner told Sports Spectrum Magazine in a 2021 interview.
Risner established his foundation based on 1 Peter 4:10, which also is tattooed on his forearm: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
He also wrote a children's book, "Rise Up," about his faith.
5. (Somewhat) newlywed
Risner and his wife Whitney were married in June 2022.
Whitney is a popular social media influencer who started creating TikToks during the COVID-19 pandemic that chronicled NFL family life.
In September 2022, she eclipsed 1 million followers.
