The defense was the story for the Minnesota Vikings in their 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears this past Sunday, but one of their players was recognized on Wendesday for their contributions on special teams.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday. He’s the first member of the team to receive weekly award recognition this season.
Rodgers made, arguably, the biggest play of the Vikings’ win at Soldier Field, as his block of Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field
goal attempt that would have tied the game with six minutes left in the fourth quarter helped to preserve what was then a 6-3 Minnesota lead. The block was the first for the Vikings since Week 9 of 2025, when Levi Drake Rodriguez blocked a field goal attempt against Detroit (with Rodgers recovering the loose ball). Rodriguez also won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance.
This is the second weekly award that Rodgers has won since joining the Vikings. He was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3 of last season when he returned both an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in the same quarter in a blowout victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Rodgers is also now the only player in the league with at least one blocked kick in each of the last three seasons.
Congratulations to Isaiah Rodgers on being named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season!
