Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph surprised Lili Charlier at Dick’s Sporting Goods
By Adam Carlson
Tight end Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings surprised Brainerd High School’s first female football player at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Baxter, MN.
Kyle Rudolph of the Minnesota Vikings was scheduled to appear at a grand opening for a new Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Baxter, Minnesota on Saturday, February 24, 2018, but wound up giving out a lot more than just some autographs and photo opportunities.
A multi-sport athlete in high school and college who played basketball and football, Rudolph met another athletic standout at the sporting goods store and got quite a reaction from Brainerd High School’s Lili Charlier.
Here is a video of the meeting between Charlier and Rudolph at Dick’s Sporting Goods as shared on the YouTube channel of TheGonz17. (NOTE: the meeting starts at the 4:30 mark of the video)
Charlier is the first female student to play football at Brainerd High School, where she also participates in rugby, weightlifting, and track and field. Plus, she has earned a rugby scholarship to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut according to WCCO CBS Minneapolis.
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The meeting between Rudolph and Charlier is a fun one to watch. Her surprise when the Minnesota Vikings tight end personally met up with her, presented her with a jersey, and signed it with a personalized message had her not knowing what to do.
A left tackle for Brainerd, Charlier was congratulated by Rudolph for her scholarship to Quinnipiac University as well as her school records in weightlifting. She asked how Rudolph balances work, fame, and family life, prompting him to point to his wife and kids and state that he brings them with him.
Vikings fans may notice that Rudolph was actively using a crutch to help him get around at the event. The tight end dealt with a lingering ankle problem during the season and while it wasn’t confirmed during the video, it is likely this is the same ailment as it heals.
Next: Rudolph voted by teammates as Ed Block Award winner
Huge thanks to Dick’s Sporting Goods, Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, and Lili Charlier for making this great meeting happen as well as our friends at The Daily Norseman for bringing this story to our attention as well as