Josh Metellus

CAREER NOTES

• One of five players in the league in 2023 with at least four forced fumbles, 2.0 sacks and an interception (Bobby Okereke, Fred Warner, T.J. Watt and Antoine Winfield, Jr.). Just the third Viking in team history to achieve this stat line in a single season, joining Jared Allen (twice, 2009 and 2011) and Antoine Winfield, Sr., (2008).
• Named Vikings 2020 Special Teams Player of the Year as part of annual Minnesota Football Honors program.
• Was elevated from practice squad to 53-man roster and played in first-career game at Indianapolis (9/20/20).

2023 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Named team captain for the 2023 season.
• Started a career-high 17 games for the Vikings in 2023, after combining for just three starts from 2020-22, lining up at more than 10 different positions on defense.
• Finished second on the team in total defensive tackles with 112, setting career highs in both starts and tackles. Also recorded a career high in sacks (2.5) and tied his career best in interceptions (one).
• His four forced fumbles this season tied for the most among Viking defenders (Danielle Hunter) and tied for the fifth most in the NFL.
• Tallied six tackles and a pass defensed in the Vikings Week 18 matchup at Detroit (1/7).
• Led the team with 10 tackles in Week 16 against Detroit (12/24), his second highest total in a single game, trailing only his performance against the Lions in 2022.
• Notched a sack in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati in Week 15 (12/16), bringing his season and career totals to 2.5 sacks. Also had five tackles, including one for loss.
• Forced his fourth fumble this season at Las Vegas in Week 14 (12/10). Also had seven tackles, the second most on the team.
• Forced multiple fumbles in a single game for the first time in his career against Chicago in Week 12 (11/27). He also had nine tackles and 0.5 sack during Monday Night Football.
• Had five tackles, including one for loss, and two quarterback hurries in Week 10 against New Orleans (11/12). Also recorded a pair of tackles on special teams.
• In Week 9 at Atlanta (11/5), collected five tackles, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and recovered a fumble forced by Akayleb Evans.
• Grabbed his first interception of the season and the second of his career at Green Bay (10/29). His 43-yard return marked the longest interception return for the Vikings this season.
• Corralled his first career sack at Chicago (10/15), forcing a fumble on the play that Jordan Hicks recovered and returned for a touchdown.

CAREER NOTES

• One of five players in the league in 2023 with at least four forced fumbles, 2.0 sacks and an interception (Bobby Okereke, Fred Warner, T.J. Watt and Antoine Winfield, Jr.). Just the third Viking in team history to achieve this stat line in a single season, joining Jared Allen (twice, 2009 and 2011) and Antoine Winfield, Sr., (2008).
• Named Vikings 2020 Special Teams Player of the Year as part of annual Minnesota Football Honors program.
• Was elevated from practice squad to 53-man roster and played in first-career game at Indianapolis (9/20/20).

2023 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Named team captain for the 2023 season.
• Started a career-high 17 games for the Vikings in 2023, after combining for just three starts from 2020-22, lining up at more than 10 different positions on defense.
• Finished second on the team in total defensive tackles with 112, setting career highs in both starts and tackles. Also recorded a career high in sacks (2.5) and tied his career best in interceptions (one).
• His four forced fumbles this season tied for the most among Viking defenders (Danielle Hunter) and tied for the fifth most in the NFL.
• Tallied six tackles and a pass defensed in the Vikings Week 18 matchup at Detroit (1/7).
• Led the team with 10 tackles in Week 16 against Detroit (12/24), his second highest total in a single game, trailing only his performance against the Lions in 2022.
• Notched a sack in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati in Week 15 (12/16), bringing his season and career totals to 2.5 sacks. Also had five tackles, including one for loss.
• Forced his fourth fumble this season at Las Vegas in Week 14 (12/10). Also had seven tackles, the second most on the team.
• Forced multiple fumbles in a single game for the first time in his career against Chicago in Week 12 (11/27). He also had nine tackles and 0.5 sack during Monday Night Football.
• Had five tackles, including one for loss, and two quarterback hurries in Week 10 against New Orleans (11/12). Also recorded a pair of tackles on special teams.
• In Week 9 at Atlanta (11/5), collected five tackles, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and recovered a fumble forced by Akayleb Evans.
• Grabbed his first interception of the season and the second of his career at Green Bay (10/29). His 43-yard return marked the longest interception return for the Vikings this season.
• Corralled his first career sack at Chicago (10/15), forcing a fumble on the play that Jordan Hicks recovered and returned for a touchdown.

2022 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Notched his first career start at safety and had 11 tackles, one interception and two passes defensed on the day (9/25).
• Made his second career start at safety and totaled nine tackles (seven solo) at Detroit (12/11).
• Blocked his first punt of his career and the first by the Vikings since Eric Wilson blocked a punt in Atlanta in 2019 (12/24).
• Blocked his second punt, becoming the first NFL player to block a punt in two consecutive games since 1995 (1/1/23).
• Made his third career start in Week 18 at Chicago and recorded a single-game high of three passes defensed (1/8/23).
• Appeared on special teams in his postseason debut against New York Giants (1/15/23).

2021 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Appeared in 16 games. Had career highs in total tackles with six, including four solo (career-high) and one pass defensed.
• Played in his 30th career game (1/2).
• Recorded his first defensive tackle of the season and of his career. He also had one special teams tackle (11/28).
• Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 prior to Game 12.
• Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 prior to Game 11.
• Appeared on special teams in Weeks 1 - 9.

2020 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Played in final 15 games of season.
• Had second straight game with FR vs. Dallas (11/22).
• Recovered fumble on punt coverage at Chicago (11/16), a win on Monday Night Football.
• Led team with four special teams stops vs. Detroit (11/8)
• Played on defense at Green Bay (11/1).
• Played at Houston (10/4) and had two tackles on coverage units.
• Played on special teams vs. Tennessee (9/27).
• Played in first career game at Indianapois (9/20). Moving from practice squad to 53-man roster days before game.
• Released in final roster cuts following training camp but returned on practice squad where he spent the season-opening week and game vs. Green Bay (9/13).

COLLEGE - MICHIGAN

• Started all 13 games as a senior, 12 as a junior, 13 as a sophomore and one as a true freshman in 2016.
• Notched career-high 74 tackles in 2019 and 3 INT in 2018.
• Had team-high 11 tackles vs. Alabama in the 2020 Citrus Bowl.
• Michigan went 10-3 in 2016 and 2018, 9-4 in 2019 and 8-5 in 2017. Went to Orange Bowl vs. Florida State ('16), Outback vs. South Carolina ('17), Peach vs. Florida ('18) and Citrus ('19).
• Part of the Pro Football Focus College Big Ten Defensive Team of the Week for his games against Middle Tennessee State, Army, Notre Dame and Michigan State in 2019.
• Returned a 73-yard INT for TD against SMU in 2018.
• Three-time All-Big Ten honoree (2017-19) and was tabbed a First-Team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press in 2018.

PREP - FLANAGAN (FLA.)

• Attended Flanagan High in Pembroke Pines, Fla., in greater Miami and was coached by Devin Bush, Sr.
• Helped Flanagan to Class 8A state title in 2015, part of a turnaround under Coach Bush, a former Super Bowl winner, who led Flanagan from a team that had never made the state playoffs to the state semis in 2014 and the title in 2015.
• A four-star prospect and rated No. 21 safety in nation by ESPN.
• High school and college teammate Devin Bush, Jr,. was a first-round selection by the Steelers in 2019.

OFF THE FIELD

• Graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport management.
• Had a son, Joshua Syx Metellus, with his wife Haley in spring 2021.