ELLEFSON IS AN OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT WITH THE VIKINGS AND IS ENTERING HIS THIRD YEAR.
13 minutes ago
EAGAN, Minn. (KVRR) –While Minnesota Vikings players continue their quest to become better each day at TCO Performance Center, it is the same for coaches, including former NDSU Bison Ben Ellefson.
“Being able to jump right into the coaching side of things and still be involved with this organization, with this team, and everything, has been a dream come true,” said Ellefson on transitioning to coaching after a 3-year NFL playing career.
From his days as a Hawley Nugget, an NDSU Bison and Minnesota Viking, Ben Ellefson’s football journey continues on in his home State of Minnesota.
Ellefson is entering year three on the coaching side. His official title: Offensive Assistant. Year two saw Ellefson helping with the Tight Ends. Year three, a new challenge: the offensive line.
“Learning a little bit different of a world than the tight ends, a lot of the similar things, but just kind of a different world than what I’m used to, and it’s going to help me, you know, in my coaching career.”
Still fresh in the coaching side of things, Ellefson has former teammates still on the Vikings who have seen his transition first hand. One of those guys is current star Tight End T.J. Hockenson.
“Ben was in my room my first year, I played with Ben,” said Hockenson. “To see him gravitate towards the coaching side and then grow in that, obviously, was a lot of fun to watch. He’s locked in in his job, and super excited to watch his career grow and see where he can go from here.”
Ellefson is one of many NDSU grads a part of the NFL, something he credits to the Bison Culture.
“It’s a special place, and it just shows the work that gets put in and the development of the players. I think Coach Polasek is really bought into that, and that’s one of his biggest things. I think that’s what makes it really special, because they pour into players in the weight room, in life and then on the football field, obviously, too. This has been really cool to see Pro Bison throughout the NFL coaching and playing side of things.”
As Ellefson continues this next chapter of his coaching career, he shares what he envisions himself doing next.
“I think I had a lot of impactful position coaches in my time. I think to get to something like that would be pretty cool, whether it’s here or somewhere else. I don’t really have a goal set in mind right now or a timeline on anything, just kind of experiencing and enjoying what I’m doing right now and just kind of let the chips fall, as they may.”
Ellefson says the Bison get talked about plenty in the building and if you think the NDSU-UND rivalry ever dies, it does not. Ellefson works alongside 2006 North Dakota grad Chris Kuper (Offensive Line coach). He says they go at it a little bit here and there, but he’s learning a lot from him.