Thanksgiving is this week, and we all know what that means: food, family, and football!
An underrated occasion to some, Thanksgiving is the preamble to the hectic holiday season. We overeat while surrounded by the people we enjoy most and are delivered constant entertainment throughout the day, especially on a three-game football slate.
While the 2025 Minnesota Vikings have given fans little to be thankful for, I wanted to break up the doom and gloom of the season with something light-hearted.
So, this got me thinking: If the 2025 Vikings were a Thanksgiving meal, which player would be each dish?
To start, the front office and the coaching staff are the chefs in the kitchen. They have been prepping this meal all day and are doing what they can to put together a bountiful feast.
Justin Jefferson is the turkey
We start with Justin Jefferson, the turkey. The reasoning is simple: You can’t have a Thanksgiving meal without turkey, and the Vikings revolve around Jefferson.
Everyone focuses on his impact when he’s on the field. He has been the team staple since he entered the NFL in 2020, and he’s the one any organization builds its plate around.
Andrew Van Ginkel is the stuffing
Just like stuffing’s ability to fill every gap, so does Andrew Van Ginkel. Both play a vital role as the glue that keeps Minnesota’s team together. Whether it’s retreating to cover the pass or coming in to stuff the run, Van Ginkel is an essential part of this plate.
Jordan Addison is the green bean casserole
Addison is the sneaky green bean casserole. While not the main dish, this Thanksgiving staple always surprises you. While Addison is considered the secondary receiver on the roster, he’s liable to have a breakout game every week.
His productivity forces defenses to pick what fills their proverbial plate, Jefferson or Addison. Addison may not attract all the attention, but you’ll definitely go for seconds.
Aaron Jones is the gravy
Mashed potatoes would be the offensive line for their containment, and Aaron Jones would be the gravy based purely on both having the ability to run all over the plate. The offensive line blocks for the quarterback on passing downs, but if they create a hole in the run game, you can expect Jones to run right through it.
Silky smooth and difficult to contain, gravy can accentuate the other foods on the plate, just as Jones helps complement every aspect of the offense.
Isaiah Rodgers is the mac and cheese
Rogers is a serving of mac and cheese. A popular dish on its own, mac and cheese is the perfect comfort food for the perfect meal.
The same can be said about Rogers. As fans have seen this season, he can deliver a big, clutch play when the defense needs him most, and it is an easy recipe for Chef Brian Flores.
Harrison Smith is the dinner roll
The dinner roll is steady, just like Harrison Smith. No flash, always there, a staple of any meal, the dinner roll is a perfect side when the plate starts getting too full.
Like the steady dinner roll, Smith is always able to make a play.
While you may not always hear his name on the broadcast, he’s always been able to influence the game since entering the league in 2012. Even though your plate is full, Smith’s simple consistency makes it hard not to get one more.
T.J. Hockenson is the cranberry sauce
Hockenson and cranberry sauce are equally versatile in this equation. Whether it’s homemade or from a can, it’s tough to argue that cranberry sauce can’t adapt to any situation when building this plate. Hockenson does the same for the offense.
His ability to be a lead blocker in the run game, combined with his reliability as a receiver when needed in the pass game, makes him a valuable presence when everything around him needs that little extra flavor.
Will Reichard is the pumpkin pie
Like pumpkin pie, Reichard is a finisher. Both are reliable, whether it’s the end of the meal or the end of the drive. Reichard’s ability to efficiently punch in FGs or PATs catches the eye of the people. Just like that piece of pie seals the meal, Reichard puts the exclamation point on the team.
A perfect Thanksgiving meal
The 2025 season for the Vikings has been anything but a perfect plate, but the pieces that make up the team can build the perfect meal. While we gather with friends and family, playing games and watching football, it’s essential to be happy and thankful for what we do have.
These Vikings players are a full Thanksgiving meal and make the fans happy with this full plate.
