Bo Richter
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ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Minnesota Vikings tendered an exclusive rights contract to linebacker Bo Richter.
The Minnesota Vikings are bringing back linebacker Bo Richter for the 2026 NFL season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday the Vikings tendered Richter his exclusive rights free agent contract.
This offseason, the linebacker was an ERFA because he has just two years of accrued service time in the NFL. That means the Vikings had the ability to tender him a contract that will disallow Richter from negotiating with other teams.
That’s exactly what the Vikings did. The tender will give the linebacker a one-year contract on the league-minimum salary.
Although he doesn’t play much on defense, the Vikings saw Richter worth that value because of his contributions on special teams. In his first two NFL seasons, Richter has averaged 319.5 special teams snaps per year.
During 2025, Richter lined up for 372 special teams snaps for Minnesota, which was 83% of the team’s snaps on the unit. Richter also played 52 snaps on defense.
With that playing time, the linebacker had 11 combined tackles, six solos and five assisted. He also had one pass defense.
Vikings Bringing Back LB Bo Richter: Report
Because it was only going to take a league-minimum salary for him to return, it was a bit of a no-brainer for the Vikings to tender the linebacker a contract.
Richter could remain in Minnesota for a couple more years. Next season, the linebacker will be a restricted free agent.
To keep him next offseason, the Vikings will have to tender Richter another contract. With restricted free agency, players could still potentially receive offers from other teams and sign elsewhere depending on the tender their current teams place on them.
But the linebacker isn’t guaranteed to completely hit the open market until 2028.