Many others may have played their last games for the Vikings and with Metellus, who through tears described the bonds built this season.
“I have a family for life,” said Metellus, who is under contract through 2025. “Starting down from 22 [Smith], my oldest teammate on the team, to Beezy B [Bynum], Theo [Jackson], Gilly, Shaq, we go through the whole group. I have a family for life in these guys. We had a special room. I was just grateful for the honor to be able to play football with these guys, and do the things I love with the people I love.”
“The relationships in this building,” he added. “That’s what hurt the most. Losing this, losing what we built from the ground up.”
Bynum said, “As humans, it’s tough to do. Whoever comes or goes, it’s never going to be exactly the same. It stings knowing we could’ve had more time, but we didn’t play well enough to have more.”
General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah especially has work to do at cornerback, where Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern and NaJee Thompson are among the only players currently signed for next season.
Gilmore, who had 10 deflections and one interception in 16 games this season, said he’ll consider retirement this offseason for the first time. The 34-year-old Gilmore said his body is “feeling it” more than normal.