Kleinsasser, a six-foot-three, 272-pound tight end, was twice selected to the All-Joe team put together by the "USA Today" in 2007 and again in 2008. At North Dakota, Kleinsasser was a four-time first-team All-North Central Conference (NCC) pick and in 1998 was the only Division II football player selected as a Gannett News Service All-American. "Jimmy probably feels the same way. Jimmy wanted to be included. On a December morning, their homestead is an oasis of heat and color on a desolate and wind-blown landscape. Kleinsasser has made mark in NFL - Jamestown Sun Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. When he was little, he'd run into the yard and lay a hit on the family dog that would get him fined by the NFL today. So are the hometown heros speeches during the coachs annual summer football camp. Jim Kleinsassers birth sign is Aquarius and he has a ruling planet of Uranus. Former NFL fullback and tight end who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1999 to 2011. December 24, 2011 - 10:21 AM. He was part of three division championships, lost two NFC championship games, saw the Love Boat scandal engulf the organization in 2005, watched Brett Favre spin magic in 2009 and endured the misery of the past two seasons. Amidst his 13-year career with the Vikings, Kleinsasser has always done what many others fail to do by merely keeping his nose down and doing his job. Of the players who were on the Vikings' roster for that game, only he and Birk, his friend who left the Vikings to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, are still in the NFL. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. After high school, Kleinsasser played for UND, where he won a long list of awards, including All-American and unanimous All-NCC first team pick. "What I personally remember about Jimmy, and miss, is that we were always two of the earlier guys to show up in the locker room. Kleinsasser spent his entire 13-year career with the Vikings. Kleinsasser retiring after the season - Bring Me The News Jim Kleinsasser: Big as the prairie - Star Tribune Randall Cunningham was the starting quarterback when he debuted in 1999, the year current starter Christian Ponder turned 11. Ive been blessed with the opportunity to spend some big amount of time with them, which has been a huge help in the transition. "If I had gone anywhere else, how many years would I have lasted? He was born in 1977 in Carrington, and at 6'3? Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Jim Kleinsasser is 6-3 (190 cm) tall. ", Noon at FedEx Field TV: Ch. "We said, 'Cereal? If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. He grew up with his family in White River Junction, Vermont. The Kleinsassers expected Jimmy to be drafted in the second or third round by the New York Giants. We see that you have javascript disabled. "Kid," Theismann told him, "I cried, too. "I don't think we ever finished a game," Jimmy said. He doesn't eat cereal. Jim Kleinsasser Net Worth: Jim Kleinsasser is a retired American professional football player who has a net worth of $12 million. "That poor animal," Kathe said. During his time in the NFL, Kleinsasser had 192 receptions for 1,688 yards and six touchdowns. Kleinsasser adapted to a new vocation as a blocking tight end, fending off the linebackers on the edge and colliding with defensive ends in pass protection. Jim Kleinsasser - Pro-Football-Reference.com Kleinsasser also rushed for close to 150 total yards and one touchdown, with a 3.4 average rushing yards per attempt career mark. He's a tremendous example for any young player.". His blocking skills also paved the way for 7 of the top 8 single-season rushing marks in Vikings history, including Adrian Peterson's then team record and NFL leading 1,760 yds in 2008. U.S. Bank and Polaris surprised Army Sergeant Jonathon Laney and his family with a new truck and ATV during Sunday's game against the Cowboys. After a standout career at the University of North Dakota, Kleinsasser was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 1999 draft. "I drove down the main street just to embarrass him," Carter said. He was a two-time Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota player of the year in football. Hochhalter and Kleinsasser have become close friends, and Kleinsasser returns to Carrington in the summer to help with Hochhalter's football camps. In football, he was a two time All-Region honoree and All-State honoree, and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota Player of the Year. ", When Sheri got her license, she'd drive into Carrington daily to shoot hoops or lift weights. Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life, North Dakota Legislative Review 2023 | Sen. Jerry Klein (R-Fessenden), Musician Kinky Friedman talks songwriting, heartbreak, and more, Arkansas woman pleads not guilty to selling over 20 boxes of stolen human body parts, 'A tragedy that makes you laugh': HBO's 'White House Plumbers' revisits Watergate, Tracking the impact of U.S.-China tensions on global financial institutions, 'I'll lose my family.' Kleinsasser attended the University of North Dakota and played for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team from 1995 to 1998 before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999. He defines what a Viking is supposed to be.". "If I had gone anywhere else, how many years would I have lasted? Its 8 oclock in the morning and you feel you should be at the stadium right now. "For him, Advil is a cure-all. Carter folded his thick arms, leaned back and stared across the endless prairie. The house is small, warm and modest. He was 3. [1], Kleinsasser attended the University of North Dakota and played for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team from 1995 to 1998 before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999. Of the players who were on the Vikings roster for that game, only he and Birk, his friend who left the Vikings to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, are still in the NFL. He doesn't eat cereal. He's proved tough enough to last, versatile enough to adapt, talented enough to engender loyalty, affordable enough to fit into every budget, and diligent and likeable enough to endear himself to a disparate mix of bosses. He's not what you'd call an impact player. Seasons in Minnesota: 13 (1999-2011) Position: Tight end. "What I personally remember about Jimmy, and miss, is that we were always two of the earlier guys to show up in the locker room. Then Vikings coach Denny Green traded three draft choices to the Steelers for the chance to take Jimmy with the 44th pick. She would turn her back, post me up and hit this sweet little fadeaway baseline jumper, and I'd try to lean on her and fall on my butt. When Jimmy was in middle school, Carter fired up the obsolete machine that produced square bales, just to show the kids how farm work was done before modern machines did the hoisting. "It's going to be quite an offseason," Carter said. ), 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. "I have to lift weights.". Kleinsasser's first love was basketball, but football came naturally because he liked hitting people. "It's going to be sad to see Jim go, but I know that it's the right thing for him, and I'm happy for him," he said. Here's to a guy who's always been an accountable teammate. We would advise you to tell your son that if he's going to continue to dunk the basketball, he should do so very carefully.". In football, he was a two time All-Region honoree and All-State honoree, and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota Player of the Year. "You've got the farms and the bars and the churches and the characters. "There aren't enough guys like that in the NFL these days.". For his part, Kleinsasser sounds like he would rather soak up one last game-day experience, exchange some bro-hugs and sneak out the back door than revel in the spotlight. "But I would guess he's still available in most fantasy leagues. CARRINGTON, N.D. They've tilled fields all their adult lives, Carter atop his Wil-Rich Field Cultivator, Jimmy wearing size 17 Nike Superbad cleats. After tossing 80-pound bales around all day, Jimmy asked the time. Only four active NFL players have been with one team longer than Kleinsasser in Minnesota. Hes a great role model. Kleinsasser announced his retirement following the 2011 season. In football, he played all over the field in high school and excelled as a tight end in college, leading to a pro career in which he has played fullback, tight end and H-back, proving remarkably adept at drive-blocking on running plays and protecting on pass plays. Im retiring, and Im going to stay retired, he said. There weren't many distractions in Carrington, a town of about 2,200. The greatest overall compatibility with Aquarius is Leo and Sagittarius. Former Vikings TE Jim Kleinsasser was Tatum Everett's 'TCO Legends Connection' during Sunday's game against the Giants. 40. He was fine with that. "Kid," Theismann told him, "I cried, too. Its been a step back and just focusing on family, Kleinsasser said. "The other teachers were telling Jimmy's teacher that playing football wasn't a job, that he needed to correct Jimmy," Sheri said. He is a member of famous with the age 46 years old group. asked Marty Hochhalter, Kleinsasser's high school coach. "My attitude has always been, 'Whatever they ask you to do, do it.' More important, she was his transportation. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. "We joke that he's the 'Missing Link,' because he'll get hurt and a couple of days later he's 100 percent again," Hutchinson said. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it. Before he became an iron man, Kleinsasser was a farm boy. I think a lot of guys get caught up in themselves and don't really realize it. I've got college friends who are here, who provided an instant support system. We would advise you to tell your son that if he's going to continue to dunk the basketball, he should do so very carefully.". NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell surprised young Vikings fan Charlie Huizinga with a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl during Sunday's game against the Giants. By Before he became an iron man, Kleinsasser was a farm boy. He lasted 13 seasons, almost 10 years longer than the span of the average NFL career. China won't hold out from buying U.S. soybeans, broker predicts - Agweek Jimmy Kleinsasser attended Carrington High School in Carrington, North Dakota and was a letterman and a standout in football, basketball, and track & field. They have imagination and don't like planning things in advance. Jim Kleinsasser, or "The Sauce," is one of those former players that define what it means to be a Viking. Jim Kleinsasser's birthstone is Garnet. The 120 or so fans coming by ca Greatest Viking Of All Time: (5) Jim Kleinsasser vs. (12) Ed McDaniel I just take pride in the fact that I work hard and I figure that if you're willing to do anything, there's value in that. He also had 43 carries for 147 years and a touchdown. "I may not know what to do with myself," he said. "Jimmy always tagged along," Sheri said. It's hard to know Jim Kleinsasser birth time, but we do know his mother gave birth to his on a Monday. He signed with North Dakota, and his parents suggest that he did so because his sister, Sheri, was a basketball star there. Jimmy wanted to be included. He's six weeks old.' JUMP TO: Jim Kleinsassers biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos, net worth, and popularity. Kleinsasser hasnt decided yet on what will be his career after football. How tall is Jim Kleinsasser? Discover what happened on this day. Jim Kleinsasser's House in Mound, MN - Virtual Globetrotting "Carrington has to be one of the greatest places you could grow up," Kleinsasser said. Saturday's Hometown Heroe was Emily Hunt Turner. Former Vikings TE Jim Kleinsasser was Tatum Everett's 'TCO Legends Connection' during Sunday's game against the Giants. And it takes some luck just to stick around in this league. "Jimmy's teacher said, 'Why would I do that? Loyalty. He's a truly great player. From the Herald vault: Kleinsasser catch against - Grand Forks Herald Next Sunday, Jimmy Kleinsasser will line up against the Bears and throw a few more blocks before ending a career that has unfolded like every little league parent's daydream. , Star Tribune The 46-year-old football player was born in North Dakota, United States. In 1999, Kleinsasser was drafted as a fullback, a position that he played for the early portion of his career. He has also spent time fishing and being outdoors. JIM KLEINSASSER - PREP ATHLETIC STANDOUT AT CARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION YEAR: 1995 HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC CAREER FOOTBALL Letter winner for the Cardinals in football. Jimmy grew the most underappreciated career in Minnesota sports. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below. "I've been so lucky," Kleinsasser said, as he ate cheese cubes at his wife's recent event in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Is Jim Kleinsasser in the Hall of Fame? Kleinsasser, who has no immediate plans, is a living time capsule in a Vikings locker room that has been turned over as much as the field crops on his family farm. Kleinsasser's number doesn't get called very often. Retiring on his terms, in the stadium where it all began, in front of friends and family, Kleinsasser would not have it any other way. For him to make it 13 years, damn near 180 games, and still be standing at the end of it, that's something special. He was fine with that. The principal asked Carter to put a claim in on his homeowners insurance, and the policy paid the school $500. Jim Kleinsasser Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family '", Years later, Jimmy ran into Theismann at a golf tournament and told him he cried the day Theismann's leg was broken in one of the more grotesque moments in NFL history. I dont have any regrets. Jan 14, 2022. Jim Kleinsasser's net worth Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings | Prairie Public Broadcasting In football, he was a two time All-Region honoree and All-State honoree, and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions North Dakota Player of the Year. A husband's dread during an abortion ordeal in Oklahoma, JPMorgan Chase buys troubled First Republic Bank after U.S. government takeover. He played college football at North Dakota and played for the Vikings his entire career since being drafted in 1999. He will depart as the Vikings all-time leader in games played by a tight end (181), knowing he helped clear a path during seven of the teams eight top individual rushing seasons. "He'd want one soon as he got into the truck, and then he'd get hungry later. He can block at the point, he can pass protect, he can catch, he can run after the catch., Kleinsasser credited growing up in North Dakota for the skills and values needed to be successful in life saying, Dont ever take for granted growing up in this great state, because the opportunities are available to you if you want to succeed. He speaks highly of his mom and dad and about doing right by them, Hochhalter said. The nurse looked at us and said, 'We thought he was six months old.'". In high school, Kleinsasser often had to wear his basketball shoes during track season, and when the Vikings drafted him, they didn't have any cleats large enough for him to wear. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Acquired by Vikings: Round 2, 1999 NFL Draft. Published April 25, 2022 at 3:14 PM CDT. "That poor animal," Kathe said. Kleinsasser's first love was basketball, but football came naturally because he liked hitting people. Former Vikings Ahmad Rashad and Tommy Kramer sounded the Gjallarhorn prior to the Vikings-Colts game on Dec. 17. Kleinsasser retired at the end of the 2011 NFL season after 13 seasons with the Vikings. When he was little, he'd run into the yard and lay a hit on the family dog that would get him fined by the NFL today. Carrington's Kleinsasser retiring after 13-year NFL career "I was always 'Sheri's little brother' in Carrington," Kleinsasser said. Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper agreed. Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser confirmed today that he will retire at the end of the season. 8. He won the USA Today All-Joe Team award for under-appreciated players two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008. Discover Jim Kleinsasser's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Hes the kind of guy you win with and the kind of kid you want on your football team., Said Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin: Oh, man, I love Jimmy. Carter said it was 4:30. Hochhalter said Kleinsassers accountability is rooted in small-town values. Astrologers and astronomers could only work with planets visible to the eye. Homes - Celebrity - Sports - Football Links: en.wikipedia.org By: tlp333 Celebrity Homes Mailing List James 'Jimmy Jam' Harris' house (former) He has worked at the paper since 1990, previously covering the Twins and Vikings. You have to know exactly what it is you are comfortable with doing. He's proved tough enough to last, versatile enough to adapt, talented enough to engender loyalty, affordable enough to fit into every budget, and diligent and likeable enough to endear himself to a disparate mix of bosses. You know that he's going to come to work prepared, ready to do his job. Im at peace with my career and what Ive done here. The past 13 years, Carter and Kathe Kleinsasser have made the six-hour drive to the Metrodome for Vikings games that didn't coincide with blizzards or harvests. In football, he played all over the field in high school and excelled as a tight end in college, leading to a pro career in which he has played fullback, tight end and H-back, proving remarkably adept at drive-blocking on running plays and protecting on pass plays. They'll make one more. We knew how good he was.". "Jimmy probably feels the same way. Ruling Planet: Jim Kleinsasser has a ruling planet of Uranus and has a ruling planet of Uranus. where does jim kleinsasser live now He's six weeks old.' Their lucky numbers are 2, 8, 9, and lucky colors are red, light yellow, black. Even your seasons of the year go by your football schedule. I wouldn't hesitate to say that much of Peterson's success could be attributed to the player in front of him and out on the wings, setting up blocks so that he can break the big one. "We'd hang out by our lockers in the morning and in the equipment room during lunch, the non-nonsense, no-glamour guys," Birk said. Long-snapper Cullen Loeffler has played for the Vikings since 2004. Marty Hochhalter hears Harvins uncomplicated statement and says that sounds about right. He defines what a Viking is supposed to be.". The Kleinsassers moved here in 1974, to acquire more farmland, and planted a long row of evergreens for beauty and protection from the high winds, and a couple of ash trees for shade. In third grade, on career day, Kleinsasser wore his Joe Theismann Redskins jersey to class. We knew how good he was.". "I thought for sure the ball was overthrown. The nurse looked at us and said, 'We thought he was six months old.'". They'd leave their parents' cute, modest home to play one-on-one on the basket near the Quonset hut out back, and return shortly, red-faced. Many people would simply overlook the fact that Peterson hasn't done all of this by himself. ", The Vikings signed star guard Steve Hutchinson before the 2006 season, and he joined the clique. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. So here's to one of the greatest unsung heroes to ever wear a Vikings uniform. He outlasted the likes of Torii Hunter, Kevin Garnett and Matt Birk, three celebrated local athletes whose substantial contracts prompted their departures. We'd sit there and drink a cup of coffee and talk about football, ice fishing, our kids, whatever. Wild ride, Kleinsasser said. "He's still very considerate, still very much himself. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Jimmy Kleinsasser Career Stats | NFL.com I kind said I wasnt going to jump into anything in my first couple years (of retiring), Kleinsasser said. Curtain call: Vikings want to send retiring tight end Jim Kleinsasser Murphy is a Detroit native and Wayne State University graduate. Saxophonist Trey Daniels, whose first single "86th St." was listed on the Smooth Jazz Billboard Chart in 2017, performed the National Anthem prior to the Vikings-Giants game on Dec. 24. They'll make one more. Follow Brian Murphy on twitter.com/bmurphPiPress. Singer-songwriter, guitarist and musical pioneer Malina Moye performed the National Anthem prior to the Vikings-Colts game on Dec. 17. Kleinsasser was as tough on basketball backboards as he was on linebackers. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. Even having not made any Pro Bowls or All-Pro teams, he should be in the Ring of Honor. and 272 pounds, he became a tight end for the Minnesota Vikings. Its been a blast. "He'd want one soon as he got into the truck, and then he'd get hungry later. Jimmy C. Kleinsasser attended North Dakota. I think theres something to be said for keeping a little bit for the rest of your life. For right now, he plans to continue spending quality time with his family. His position is almost as unsexy as offensive lineman, but he's such a key to not only your running game but your whole offense. He was born in 1977 in Carrington, and at 63? Kleinsasser shakes his head when asked to put his career in perspective. "He's still very considerate, still very much himself. Diet culture can hurts kids. Carter remembers another. Jimmy Kleinsasser Stats, News, Bio | ESPN , money, salary, income, and assets. One day Kleinsasser brought home a box holding large shards of plastic, then Carter got a call from the Carrington High principal. Jim Kleinsasser, MN Vikings | Prairie Public Broadcasting Kleinsasser was selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 1999 draft. Kleinsasser was drafted as a tight end in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He may be called "Purple Jesus," but he sure still needs blockers to help him part defenders. For him to make it 13 years, damn near 180 games, and still be standing at the end of it, that's something special. Weekend nights, teenagers would cruise the main drag. She would turn her back, post me up and hit this sweet little fadeaway baseline jumper, and I'd try to lean on her and fall on my butt. Hochhalter and Kleinsasser have become close friends, and Kleinsasser returns to Carrington in the summer to help with Hochhalter's football camps. It is a punishing job in the NFLs meat grinder, but fulfilling nonetheless. Jim Kleinsasser - Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges He would ride in the family trucks when his parents were working, and his mother figured out how to keep him happy. Born in 1977 in Carrington, North Dakota, Jim Kleinsasser played college football in his home state for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. In the movie 50 First Dates, Kleinsasser is mentioned by Sean Astin's character briefly before Kleinsasser scores a touchdown on the TV. Between 300 to 400 people showed up at Dickinsons Menards for grand opening week to get an autograph from Kleinsasser. Sheri was four years older than Jimmy, who adored her and couldn't stand losing to her. There is nothing, outside of your own misdeeds, you have to worry about.". (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo), Fans of Jim Kleinsasser cheer for him in the end zone during the pregame prior to the start of the Minnesota Vikings game against the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Ive had a lot of good times here, great teammates, great coaches. Kleinsasser was drafted as a tight end in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Carter, the Kleinsasser patriarch, has just retired from running the family farm outside Carrington, N.D. Jimmy, his son, plans to retire from the NFL after two more games, having broken the team record for most games played by a Vikings tight end, lasting much longer than his parents expected and five years longer than even he had hoped. Western North Dakota sentimental area for former Minnesota Viking He was longtime teammates with star wide receiver Randy Moss as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier vowed to send off Kleinsasser with a touchdown, which the blocking specialist has not scored in four years. "You've got the farms and the bars and the churches and the characters. Once they took him to the shoe store, and the salesman asked why Jimmy wasn't in school. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 31 January. "One of the nurses came to us and said she was having trouble getting him to eat his cereal," Carter said. Kleinsasser has played for four head coaches. Its about holding true to your morals. We stopped playing when I was in the seventh or eighth grade, because it just got too physical. The Kleinsassers moved here in 1974, to acquire more farmland, and planted a long row of evergreens for beauty and protection from the high winds, and a couple of ash trees for shade. Kids" game during halftime of Saturday's game against the Colts. Or pets. "The other teachers were telling Jimmy's teacher that playing football wasn't a job, that he needed to correct Jimmy," Sheri said. Flashback Friday: Jim Kleinsasser - purpleptsd.com One day Kleinsasser brought home a box holding large shards of plastic, then Carter got a call from the Carrington High principal.