It took all 53 players on the Minnesota Vikings to muster a critical 27-24 NFC North division win over the Detroit Lions in Week 9, but one player stood out in the best way.
Vikings defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez made some critical plays in the game as he had two tackles, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and his first career sack on defense. His sack in the game wasn't even the most critical play of the game.
That critical play came in the fourth quarter when Rodriguez blocked a Jake Bates 45-yard field goal, and it was returned by Isaiah Rodgers, who returned it 41 yards to the Lions' 26-yard line, which led to the game-sealing field goal. The NFL recognizes how important a play that was, and as a result, gave Rodriguez the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
NFC Players of the Week! (Week 9)@colstonlovelan1 | @TheReal_Tre7 | @DrakeRodriguez5 | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/JauGc5ugCM
— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2025
Rodriguez has had a quiet season for the Minnesota Vikings, but is performing well
A lot of the attention on the Vikings' defensive line has been on the emergence of Jalen Redmond and his play, but Rodriguez has been working his way up the ladder and now should be respected for his play. The former 2024 seventh-round pick has been a long shot since joining the team, but Rodriguez continues to prove his worth to the franchise.
Last year, he only played in two games, racking up just one tackle and one pass deflection. He was more of a practice squad player, and 11 of his 17 snaps on the field were on special teams.
His 2025 campaign has been quite different for Rodriguez, as he has taken on a more rotational role on the defensive line. Through eight games, he has 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and one sack.
It appears that the Vikings have the future secure at the interior defensive line once Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave move on. Redmond and Rodriguez have demonstrated that with time and development, they could be the next men up on the defensive line.
This award is just the first step for Rodriguez in continuing to build on what looks like a very promising future in the NFL.