Draft Diaries: Rudolph Was On Way to Reds Game When Vikings Tabbed Him

[Viktor]

Leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, Vikings Entertainment Network is sharing draft-day memories from recent years and decades ago. Some might have had more memorable experiences than others, but all have stories to tell.


EAGAN, Minn. — Kyle Rudolph has quite the athletic pedigree, as he is an accomplished NFL player and was a hoops star on the hardwood in high school.


But back almost a decade ago, another sport was on his mind as he watched the 2011 NFL Draft on television.


Rudolph had just completed a strong career at Notre Dame, where he had 90 catches for 1,032 yards and eight scores in 29 career games.


Yet he was a tad frustrated as the first round came and went and he didn't hear his name called.


"It was the second year, I believe, that they moved it from a Saturday-Sunday draft, to a Thursday-Friday-Saturday draft," Rudolph told Vikings.com. "I remember watching on Thursday, thinking I'm going somewhere late in the night.


"But then not being drafted and being extremely frustrated I wasn't drafted … having to go to sleep and wake up and wait all day the next day to hear my name called on Friday night [was frustrating]," Rudolph added.


Rudolph eagerly awaited the start of the second round, expecting to be one of the first few names called. When he wasn't, he thought about a different sport and wanted a nice night out with his family.