Ryan Kelly, former Alabama All-American and four-time Pro Bowl center, recently made a big move in his career by signing with the Minnesota Vikings after nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Kelly, who was drafted in the first round by the Colts in 2015, had always thought he’d finish his career in Indy. But after the last couple of years, he knew it was time for a change.

Kelly shared that he didn’t have a specific moment when he realized it was time to leave, but over the past year and a half, he had a gut feeling it was time to move on. He said he’d miss his old teammates, especially in the offensive line room, but he was ready for a fresh start. He joined the Vikings on a two-year, $18 million deal.

Minnesota stood out to Kelly because of how well the team’s offensive line played together, with a “Band of Brothers” mentality. That, combined with other factors like the team’s success and how they were run, made it the right fit for him.

Looking ahead, Kelly is excited to work with the Vikings’ new QB, J.J. McCarthy. Kelly, who has been in charge of the run game, pass protection, and blocking schemes for years, plans to use his experience to help McCarthy adjust and lead the offensive line to success.

Minnesota, which had a solid 2024 season with a 14-3 record, is full of talent on both sides of the ball. Kelly’s excited to help build on that momentum in the coming months as the team heads into training camp.