5 Things to Know About New Vikings Punter Johnny Hekker

Eagan, Minn. — Heeeeeere’s Johnny!

No, not Johnny Carson, but the Vikings have added a punter who does share the iconic show host’s first name.

Minnesota agreed to terms with Johnny Hekker, the team announced Tuesday.

Hekker, 36, is a four-time Associated Press First-Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. He most recently spent the 2025 campaign with the Titans, punting 78 times for 3,653 yards with a net average of 40.3 per boot.

Hekker spent the first 10 seasons of his pro career with the Rams, where he overlapped with Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels — who both teamed with Hekker (2012-13) and later coached him (2018-19).

Over 14 NFL seasons, Hekker has never missed a game.

Here are five things to know about the Vikings newest punter:

A native of Redmond, Washington, Hekker remained in the Pacific Northwest for college, attending Oregon State from 2008-11.

He was named the Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP as a rookie after averaging 45 yards on 10 punts, including boots of 52 and 57 yards in the fourth quarter of a scrappy 3-0 defeat of Pittsburgh.

In 2011, Hekker set a single-game school record with a 52.5-yard average on six punts.

Perhaps his most memorable punt occurred in 2010 when he kicked a 74-yarder against USC.