Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced.
In the Vikings’ Week 3 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rodgers recorded three tackles, two passes defensed, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two defensive touchdowns (one interception return and one fumble return). He is the only player in NFL history to have multiple defensive touchdowns and multiple forced fumbles in a game.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals
September 21, 2025
U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.
Rodgers, who wins Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his five-year career, is the second Viking to win NFC Player of the Week honors through the first three weeks of the 2025 season, joining QB J.J. McCarthy, who was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 1.
In his first season with the Vikings, Rodgers is the first player in NFL history with an interception return of 85+ yards and a fumble return touchdown of 65+ yards in the same game. His performance earned a perfect 99.9 grade, according to Pro Football Focus, the highest individual single-game grade in NFL history.
Rodgers also became the first player in Vikings history to score multiple defensive touchdowns in a game. His 87-yard touchdown return marked the longest by a Viking since Xavier Rhodes’ 100-yard return in Week 11 of the 2016 season vs. Arizona.
This award marks the 16th NFC Player of the Week award under Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell in 54 games, and the sixth Vikings defensive player to win the honors under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.
VIKINGS NAMED NFC PLAYER OF THE WEEK UNDER O’CONNELL
Special Teams Greg Joseph, K 2022, Week 4, vs. New Orleans (London)
Special Teams Ryan Wright, P 2022, Week 6, at Miami
Defense Za’Darius Smith, OLB 2022, Week 8, vs. Arizona
Offense Justin Jefferson, WR 2022, Week 10, at Buffalo
Special Teams Kene Nwangwu, KR 2022, Week 12, vs. New England
Offense Kirk Cousins, QB 2022, Week 15, vs. Indianapolis
Special Teams Greg Joseph, K 2022, Week 16, vs. New York Giants
Defense Jordan Hicks, LB 2023, Week 6, at Chicago
Defense Camryn Bynum, S 2023, Week 7, vs. San Francisco
Offense Joshua Dobbs, QB 2023, Week 9, at Atlanta
Defense Ivan Pace Jr., LB 2023, Week 14, at Las Vegas
Defense Jonathan Greenard, OLB 2024, Week 3, vs. Houston
Offense Sam Darnold, QB 2024, Week 14, vs. Atlanta
Defense Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB 2024, Week 16, at Seattle
Offense J.J. McCarthy, QB 2025, Week 1, at Chicago
Defense Isaiah Rodgers, CB 2025, Week 3, vs. Cincinnati
(info and photos courtesy of Minnesota Vikings Football)
