EAGAN, Minn. – Jonathan Greenard was visibly exhausted, desperately catching his breath and sipping water on the Minnesota Vikings’ sideline late in the game. He had just spent considerable energy chasing after Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, having dealt with an illness throughout the week. The Cardinals found themselves in a tight spot, facing a crucial fourth down in the waning moments of the game, trailing by one point. Greenard needed a moment to recover.
In a strategic move, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell allowed defensive coordinator Brian Flores to analyze the Cardinals’ formation before calling a timeout, hoping to give Greenard the necessary rest. The Vikings were eager to have him back on the field for the decisive play. “’You ready to go? You ready to go? You ready to go?’” O’Connell later recounted, smiling as he reflected on the unusual decision to use a timeout to rest a defensive player. “No doubt, he was going back on the field and going to have a really impactful snap.”
With Greenard back in the game, the Vikings’ pass rush applied enough pressure on Murray, forcing a hurried throw that Shaquill Griffin intercepted. This crucial play sealed a 23-22 comeback win for Minnesota, extending their winning streak to five games. Flores praised Greenard, noting his high-level performance and suggesting that he should be in contention for postseason honors. “We’re lucky to have him,” Flores concluded.
Greenard’s achievements are noteworthy; he ranks fourth in the NFL with 32 quarterback pressures and shares fourth place with 10 sacks, as tracked by Sportradar. His teammate, Harrison Smith, expressed admiration, stating, “He’s always popping off the tape, no matter what week it is, especially in crunch time.” These statistics only scratch the surface of Greenard’s significant impact on the Vikings, who prioritized acquiring him in free agency after deciding not to pursue Danielle Hunter due to financial constraints.
After four seasons marred by injuries with the Houston Texans, Greenard has emerged as one of the most effective edge rushers in the league. His exceptional performance has also contributed to Minnesota’s formidable run defense, which leads the NFL by allowing just 81.3 rushing yards per game. “The underrated part is just the all-down aspect of the physicality, setting edges, playing blocks and making some plays at or behind the line of scrimmage that set up his chances to then rush the passer,” O’Connell explained.
Greenard’s nickname, “the closer,” became particularly fitting against the Cardinals. During the game, he showcased his skill by attempting to tackle Murray despite being pushed wide by left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. He managed to poke the ball loose, though Murray recovered it, resulting in a challenging third-and-13 situation for Arizona. In a crucial moment, Greenard slid inside to maintain sight of the elusive quarterback, making an impact that demonstrated his skills.
As pressure mounted from his teammate Patrick Jones, Murray attempted to escape but faced pressure from Greenard as well. With an impressive play, Greenard caught up to Murray, forcing him to gain only three yards before the Cardinals were compelled to use another timeout. Greenard attributed his success in these late-game situations to his rigorous offseason training. “If your tongue ain’t on the ground after your workouts, I feel like you’re not doing enough, especially the guys on the quarterbacks,” he noted.
Amidst the cheering crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium, Greenard found himself doubling over and requesting to be substituted out. “I just wanted to show that I’m running my tail off to that football. It just so happened that he cut back and I was like, ‘Oh, perfect,’” he recounted, reflecting on the intensity of the play. “That was tough.”
