EAGAN, Minn. — One of the most impactful Vikings in franchise history is calling it a career.
Scott Studwell, the Vikings all-time leading tackler who has been in the scouting department since the 1991 season, will retire after the 2019 NFL Draft.
"I want to spend more time with my family," Studwell told Vikings.com. "I know for a fact that, personally, I cannot do this on a part-time basis. I'm either all-in or I'm out.
"This is not a part-time job, and this is not a part-time business," Studwell said. "For me, it was either continue doing what you're doing, or you have to call it quits. I want to spend more time with my wife, my family, my grandkids … it just feels like the right time to do it."
Studwell, who will officially retire at the end of May, is leaving the organization after an illustrious career.
He was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010, and Studwell was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2009.
A ninth-round pick out of the University of Illinois, Studwell stands alone in team history with 1,981 career defensive and special teams tackles (529 more than Matt Blair, a fellow member of the Vikings Ring of Honor). A two-time Pro Bowler, Studwell spent his entire career in Purple, playing in 214 career games, including 12 in the postseason.
He is one of five Vikings to appear in more than 200 regular-season games and holds team records for tackles in a game (24 against Detroit in 1985), in a season (230 in 1981) and most consecutive seasons of leading Minnesota in tackles (six, 1980-85).
Studwell's contributions to the team didn't end once he retired as a player after the 1990 season. He worked in player development in 1991 and was named Player Personnel Coordinator in 1992.
He has spent the past 28 seasons in the personnel department, was the team's Director of College Scouting from 2002 to 2014, and helped the franchise draft star players such as Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson and Harrison Smith.
From 1991-2018, the Vikings drafted 230 players. Fourteen of the picks have combined for 30 All-Pro honors, 28 have garnered 63 Pro Bowl honors, and 24 have been named to All-Rookie Teams.
"I've been one of the lucky ones," Studwell said. "To have been able to play here and stay here as an employee of the Vikings, it's been a dream come true.
"I've been chasing a dream for the last 42 years of winning a championship here," Studwell added. "But now it's time to help the people that I love pursue their dreams and spend more time with them and be around for them."
