A June 3rd, 2024 image from the AP Headshots at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.

Danielle Hunter

DE

#55

Experience: 10 years

Height: 6-5

Age: 30

Weight: 263 lbs

College: LSU

2024 SEASON

Solo

21
SCK

10.5
FF

1
INT

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Defense

YEAR	TEAM	G	Total	Solo	AST	SCK	SFTY	PDEF	INT	TDS	YDS	AVG	LNG
2024	Houston Texans	13	34	21	13	10.5	0	3
2023	Minnesota Vikings	17	73	44	29	16.5	0	2
2022	Minnesota Vikings	17	57	38	19	10.5	0	3
2021	Minnesota Vikings	7	37	22	15	6	0	0
2019	Minnesota Vikings	16	67	49	18	14.5	0	0
2018	Minnesota Vikings	16	68	47	21	14.5	0	0
2017	Minnesota Vikings	16	44	26	18	7	0	2
2016	Minnesota Vikings	16	54	32	22	12.5	1	1
2015	Minnesota Vikings	14	28	24	4	6	0	0
TOTAL		132	462	303	159	98	1	11	0	0	0	0	0

Fumbles

YEAR	TEAM	G	FUM	LOST	FF	OWN FR	OPP FR	TD
2024	Houston Texans	13			1
2023	Minnesota Vikings	17			4
2022	Minnesota Vikings	17			1
2021	Minnesota Vikings	7			0
2019	Minnesota Vikings	16	0	0	3		1	0
2018	Minnesota Vikings	16	0	0	0		1	1
2017	Minnesota Vikings	16	0	0	1		1	0
2016	Minnesota Vikings	16	0	0	1		1	1
2015	Minnesota Vikings	14			1
TOTAL		132	0	0	12	0	4	2

Kick Return

YEAR	TEAM	G	RET	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	20+	40+	FC	FUM
2024	Houston Texans	13
2023	Minnesota Vikings	17
2022	Minnesota Vikings	17
2021	Minnesota Vikings	7
2019	Minnesota Vikings	16
2018	Minnesota Vikings	16
2017	Minnesota Vikings	16
2016	Minnesota Vikings	16
2015	Minnesota Vikings	14	1	10	10	10	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL		132	1	10	10	10	0	0	0	0	0

Biography

TRANSACTIONS: Drafted by the Vikings in the third round (88th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of LSU...Signed to a five-year contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings on June 27, 2018...Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Vikings on September 9, 2020...Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Vikings on November 2, 2021...Signed with the Houston Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2024.

HONORS:

PFWA All-Rookie Team (2015)
PFWA All-Pro (2x - 2018, 2019)
PFWA All-NFC (3x - 2018, 2019, 2023)
PFWA All-NFL (2018)
Pro Bowl Selection (4x - 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Associated Press Second-Team (2018)
Sporting News All-Pro (2018)
NFC Defensive Player of the Week (2x - vs. Detroit (11/24/18, vs. Detroit (12/8/19)
NFC Defensive Player of the Month (October 2023)

CAREER:

Became the fourth player since 2015 to record at least 15.0 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 60 combined tackles in a season, achieving the feat in 14 games in 2023. Joined 2021 DPOY T.J. Watt, 2015 DPOY J.J. Watt and 2014 First-Team All-Pro Khalil Mack
Achieved his third season with 14.0+ sacks during 2023, tying Jared Allen for the most in Vikings history
Surpassed Allen (85.5) for the sixth-most sacks in Vikings history, concluding the 2023 season with 87.5 career sacks
Tallied at least 1.0 sack in 12 games in 2023, tied for the most games with at least 1.0 sack in a season in franchise history (Jared Allen, 2011)

2023 (Minnesota 17/17):

Named team captain for the 2023 season
Tied for the NFL lead in TFLs, recording 23 (Maxx Crosby). Finished fifth in sacks with 16.5, and his four forced fumbles tied for the fifth-most in the league
Only player in the league to record at least 22 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in 2023
His 23 TFLs marked the most in a single season by a Viking since 1999 (when the NFL started recording TFLs), and his 16.5 sacks, the fifth most in a single season in franchise history
In Week 18 at Detroit (1/7), collected six tackles, including two for loss, 1.0 sack and a quarterback hurry
Logged seven tackles and a quarterback hurry in Week 16 against Detroit (12/24)
Recorded 2.0 sacks in the first half at Cincinnati in Week 15 (12/16). He raised his season total to a career-high 15.5, tied for the fifth most in a single season in franchise history (John Randle, 1976). It also solidified Hunter's third season with 14.0+ sacks, tying Jared Allen for the most in Vikings history
Raised his career total to 86.5 sacks, surpassing Jared Allen (85.5) for the sixth most in Vikings history. His 86.5 sacks are the most by a Viking in his first nine seasons in the NFL in team history
Had a strip sack against Chicago in Week 12 (11/27), which was his fourth forced fumble of the season, marking a single-season career high. Also tied his career high with nine total tackles and registered 1.5 sacks
Recorded his 12th sack of the season and had three tackles, including two for loss, at Denver in Week 11 (11/19)
Captured his 11th sack of the season (82nd of his career) against New Orleans in Week 10.
Registered a sack in the fourth quarter at Green Bay (10/29)
Against the 49ers on Monday Night Football (10/23), recorded the 80th sack of his career, passing Everson Griffen (79.5) for the seventh-most sacks in team history
Tied his own team record (since 1982) from 2021 for the most sacks (4.0) through the first two weeks of a season after recording 3.0 at Philadelphia (9/14)
Started and recorded seven tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass defended in Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay (9/10). He was the only player in the NFL to record at least seven tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and one pass defended in Week 1

2022 (Minnesota 17/17):

Sacked QB Daniel Jones for a loss of five yards, marking 4.5 sacks in his postseason career, tied with Everson Griffen for the fourth-most postseason sacks in franchise history (1/15/23)
Played in his 100th career game, and registered 2.0 sacks and forced his seventh career fumble. Has tallied eight QB hits in the last two games, the most in the NFL in that span (12/24)
Registered his eighth sack of the season, marking the fourth-most he's had in a single-season in his career (12/17)
Took down QB Mac Jones for a loss of nine yards (11/24)
Notched his second-straight game with at least 1.0 sack. Also added two solo tackles and one QB hit (11/13)
Tallied seven total tackles (four solo), including 2.0 sacks and two tackles for loss. He now has recorded at least 1.0 sack in each of his four matchups at Washington (11/6).
Recorded his third sack of the season at Miami, upping his regular-season total to 63.5. Also had three QBHs and 2.0 TFLs (10/16)
Tallied his second sack of the season when he brought down QB Justin Fields for a loss of four yards in the second quarter. Also had six total tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss (10/9)
Notched his first sack and pass defensed on the season vs. Green Bay. Also had three total tackles on the day (9/11)

2021 (Minnesota 7/7):

Finished the season with 6.0 sacks after suffering a season-ending pec injury vs. Dallas (10/31)
Sacked Jared Goff vs. Detroit (10/10) and had four tackles and three QB hits
Sacked Baker Mayfield vs. Cleveland (10/3) and totaled seven tackles
Recorded 3.0 sacks at Arizona (9/19), only Mario Addison (9/22/19) and Devon Kennard (9/8/19) have also sacked Kyler Murray three times in a single game
Played in his first game since the Divisional Round matchup at San Francisco on 1/11/20, starting at Cincinnati (9/12) in Week 1

2020 (Minnesota 0/0):

Did not appear in any games in 2020 after suffering a season-ending injury prior during training camp
Placed on Reserve/Injured list on 9/9/20

2019 (Minnesota 16/16):

Earned Pro Bowl honors for second straight season
Started all 16 games, tied career-high and led Minnesota with 14.5 sacks (tied for fourth in the NFL)
Tied for ninth in the NFL with 15 TFLs in 2019
Tied a career high with nine total tackles at Green Bay (9/15) while notching 1.0 sack and two TFLs in his second consecutive game
Led the team with six QBHs and two TFLs while notching his first sack of the season vs. Atlanta (9/8) and made four tackles (three solo)
Set the NFL record for most sacks (46.0) by a player prior to turning 25 years old with 1.0 sack vs. Philadelphia (10/13)
Logged the ninth multi-sack game of his career with 2.0 sacks at NY Giants (10/6) and tied for the team lead with seven total tackles
Wrapped up 3.0 sacks vs. Detroit (12/8) in his 75th career game appearance, his second career game with 3.0 sacks or more. His first sack of the day made him the youngest NFL player since 1982 to reach 50.0 career sacks, doing so at 25 years and 40 days of age. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts
Finished with five tackles (four solo), a career-high two FFs, one FR and 1.0 sack at LA Chargers (12/15)
His strip-sack of Philip Rivers was recovered and returned for a TD by Ifeadi Odenigbo.
Finished with 1.5 sacks in the Wild Card win at New Orleans (1/5/20), including a crucial fourth-quarter strip-sack that stalled a potential scoring drive
Made 1.0 sack in the Divisional Round at San Francisco (1/11/20), giving him 2.5 sacks in the 2019 playoff run

2018 (Minnesota 16/16):

Earned Pro Bowl honors for first time in his career
Led the team and set career high with 14.5 sacks in 2018, the fourth-highest sack total in the NFL
Became the first Viking to record 14.0+ sacks since Jared Allen notched 22.0 in 2011.
Started all 16 games for the second consecutive season
The first player since J.J. Watt and Khalil Mack in 2015 to record at least 70 tackles, 14.0 sacks and 20 TFLs in a season
Had six tackles (four solo), 1.0 sack and 2 QBHs at Green Bay (9/16)
Extended his sack streak to four straight games by bringing down Jared Goff in the third quarter at LA Rams (9/27). Added six tackles (three solo) and four QBHs
Notched his fifth straight game with at least 1.0 sack at Philadelphia (10/7), catching Carson Wentz in the third quarter
Had three tackles (one solo), one TFL, a career-high eight QBHs, and 1.0 sack at NY Jets (10/21), his seventh consecutive game with 1.0 sack
Turned in the best game of his career vs. Detroit (11/4), totaling 3.5 sacks, four TFL, and nine total tackles (six solo) - all career highs - while adding seven QBHs and a 32-yard FR TD to help seal the victory in the 4th quarter. His 3.5 sacks were key for a defense that set a franchise record with 10 total sacks. Was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts
Broke his then-personal season record with 2.0 sacks vs. Miami (12/16), moving his season total to 14.5

2017 (Minnesota 16/16):

Started all 16 games in his first full season as a starter with 49 tackles and 7.0 sacks for the league's No.1 ranked defense.
Contributed three tackles (two solo), a FF and five QBHs vs. Cleveland (10/29) at Twickenham Stadium in London, England, as a part of the NFL's International Series.
Recorded four solo tackles, 1.0 sack, one TFL and five QBHs at Washington (11/12), extending the Vikings streak of games with a sack to 11, dating back to 2016.
Wrapped up his seventh sack of the season along with four tackles vs. Cincinnati (12/17) to help the Vikings win the NFC North title.
Made four tackles (three solo) and four QBH at Green Bay (12/23) as the Vikings shut out the Packers at Lambeau for the first time ever.
Had three tackles, four QBH and one TFL vs. Chicago (12/31) as Vikings secured the No. 1 yards allowed and scoring defense in the NFL.
Wrapped up four tackles (two solo) and three QBH in the Vikings Divisional Round win vs. New Orleans (1/14/18).
Totaled six tackles (five solo), two TFL, a sack and a QBH at Philadelphia (1/21/18) in NFC Championship Game.

2016 (Minnesota 16/0):

Totaled 64 tackles (34 solo), 12.5 sacks, 14 TFL, 49 QBHs, 1 FF, 1 FR and 1 PD for the NFL's 3rd-ranked defense (314.9 ypg)
Led NFL DEs with 12.5 sacks (3rd overall in the league), becoming the youngest player in franchise history to lead the team in sacks
Combined with Everson Griffen (8.0) and Brian Robison (7.5) – the NFL's only DE trio with 7+ sacks each – for the 2nd-most sacks by DEs (28.0)
Became the 2nd player in team history (Jared Allen, 2009) to produce a safety (Week 3) and return a fumble for a TD (Week 1) in the same season
Scored his 1st-career TD on a 24-yard fumble recovery at Tennessee (9/11) and paired with LB Eric Kendricks (77-yard INT TD) to mark the 6th time in team history TDs were scored by INT and fumble returns in a single game
Had 5 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack and 4 QBHs at Carolina (9/25), dropping Cam Newton in the end zone for the Vikings 1st safety since 12/4/2011 (Jared Allen vs. Denver) and the 1st on the road since 10/5/03 (at Atlanta)
Matched his then-single-game career high with 2.0 sacks, totaling 7 tackles (4 solo), 2 TFL and 4 QBHs, vs. Dallas (12/1)

2015 (Minnesota 14/1):

Continued to develop throughout his rookie season, playing his best in the final month of the season
Was 1 of 7 Vikings rookies to start during the season
Ranked 2nd in the NFL for sacks by a rookie with 6.0, trailing only Washington LB Preston Smith
Started 1st career game vs. Kansas City (10/18) and had 1st shared sack, teaming with Sharrif Floyd to sack Alex Smith
Had season-best 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks vs. Chicago (12/20)
Had 3-game streak late in the regular season when he had a sack in each contest - at Arizona (12/10), vs. Chicago (12/20) and vs. NY Giants (12/27)
Played in 1st career playoff game vs. Seattle (1/10/16), notching 4 tackles in Wild Card Playoff loss at the University of Minnesota, the coldest game in team history and the last game played in the Vikings temporary home before moving to U.S. Bank Stadium.

COLLEGE:

Full-time starter for the Tigers as a sophomore and junior, playing in 38 games with 23 starts and capping his career with 23 consecutive starts
Had 4.5 sacks and 21.0 TFLs in his career along with 142 tackles
Started all 13 games as a junior
Led LSU with 13 tackles for loss and ranked 10th in the SEC
Scored lone career TD vs. Mississippi State when he picked up a QB Dak Prescott fumble and rumbled 25 yards for the score on the 1st play of the 2nd half
Notched career-best 12 tackles against Auburn
Capped college career with 9 tackles against Notre Dame in Music City Bowl
Started 10 of the 13 games he played as a sophomore
Earned 1st start in 4th game of sophomore season against Auburn and never let go of the job
In 1st career start, had 8 tackles against eventual National Champion runner-up Auburn
Played in 12 games as a freshman on special teams

PERSONAL:

Four-star recruit at Morton Ranch High in Katy, Texas
Helped school earn 1st Class 5A state playoff appearance
Ranked as the No. 14 DE in the country by Scout as a senior
Name is pronounced Duh-neal
Majored in sports administration at LSU
Son of Kimari Bonito and Ckeikh Ndiaye. His uncle is a Marine
Spent the first seven years of his life in Jamaica before moving to the United States when he was 8 years old
Has frequented community service events since arriving in Minnesota and is supportive of the Boys & Girls Clubs
Visited Iceland during the 2017 offseason with Kyle Rudolph and Linval Joseph as a part of the team's Viking Heritage trip
Enjoys flying his Inspire 1 drone
Enjoys motor sports and is a car and motor parts enthusiast.

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