NFL · Biography
Jalen Redmond
Defensive end · Minnesota Vikings · active · OU 2018-2022
Midwest City hooper turned Vikings pass rusher
Jalen Redmond was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and attended Midwest City High School, where he played only basketball for his first two years. Football coaches liked his size and convinced him to try out as a junior. As a senior he piled up 87 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks and was named first-team all-state by The Oklahoman. He became a five-star recruit and committed to Oklahoma.
His Sooner career (2018–2022) required real perseverance. Blood clot issues limited him as a freshman and led him to opt out of the 2020 season. In between, he made a big impact in 2019, posting a team-leading 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He returned in 2021 with 3.5 sacks and added four more sacks as a senior in 2022.
Redmond signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023 but was waived before the season. He kept going, signing with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL/UFL, and in June 2024 he earned another NFL shot with the Minnesota Vikings. He has made the most of it.
As of October 8, 2026, Redmond is an active defensive lineman for the Vikings, where he is now teammates with fellow Sooner Kyler Murray.