The Minnesota Vikings decided to terminate the contract of fan favorite Kyle Rudolph.

Rudolph has been a member of the Vikings since he was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has made two Pro Bowl appearances in 2012 and 2017 and was named to the 2011 All-Rookie Team.

During his time with the Vikings Rudolph has played in 140 games with 132 starts, scored 48 touchdowns, the most of any Vikings TE, and racked up nearly 4,500 yards with 453 catches.

Rudolph was in the second year of a 4-year contract and releasing him will save the Vikings a bit more than $5 million in cap space and $8 million in cash for 2021 season according to NFL.com.

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Rudolph took the time to write the fans a letter on ThePlayersTribune.com saying in part, "So while I understand that a lot of the news today is going to focus on me and the team parting ways, I’d personally rather focus on the flip side of that: the fact that me and the Vikings stayed together for 10 whole seasons….. an insane run in today’s NFL. I mean, we made it to a third contract with each other. That’s rare."

Coach Zimmer said in a statement released by the team, "Kyle has been a leader and mentor for us on and off the field from the first day I arrived in Minnesota. He has been such an important part of this team and community throughout his career and it has been an honor to coach him the last seven seasons. He will be missed, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best."

Rudolph's legacy in the community will live on with his hard work and money given to the End Zone at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, a special space at the hospital that gives space and activities for both parents and kids outside the hospital rooms and in between appointments. His work with this organization and others have earned him several nominations of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

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