Former Vikings OL Steve Hutchinson on Bountygate, the Hall of Fame and life after football

Hutchinson on the Hall of Fame

It came as no surprise to see Steve Hutchinson form part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2020. This is nothing more than the man deserved after an exceptional professional career that spanned 169 games -89 of which he started for the Minnesota Vikings.

Although Hutchinson’s place in Canton was confirmed in early 2020, it was swiftly followed by COVID-19 and the significant disruption this has caused not only in the NFL but across the globe.

Hutchinson had to wait almost 18 months before finally taking the stage for his long-awaited speech, which was something he simply had to live with at the time.

"“Of course, it gives you more time to think about things and reflect. But I don’t think my speech would have been any different. I’m not the most patient of men anyway, so waiting a long time before being formally inducted wasn’t easy, even though there wasn’t much anybody could do about it with COVID-19 coming along a month or so after I was .”"

All the accolades and accomplishments Hutchinson achieved during his time in the league were extraordinary. But when asked if it was something he expected before entering the NFL out of Michigan, it’s hard to deny it wasn’t something in his thoughts.

"“It’s not like you come into the league and say you are going to be a Hall of Famer. I was confident that I could go on to have a good career, but staying free of any major injuries is the main wish for almost any player. I was quite lucky in that respect outside of a couple of injuries, which allowed me to be consistent and achieve what I did.”"

Hutchinson was not only one of the best around. But the way he approached preparation during game week, led by example, and came through when his team needed him most is what made him so respected among teammates and peers alike.

One thing’s for sure, he is and will always remain one of the greatest free-agent signings in Vikings history.