Brock Lesnar left WWE in March 2004 with a contract that had been set to run through June 2010. He requested his release to pursue professional football. Minnesota eventually offered him a rookie-minimum contract and a chance to compete for a job he might never get.
The decision involved more than changing sports. WWE’s schedule had kept him traveling about 280 days a year. Lesnar wanted more time at home with his daughter. Football offered a different possibility, but making the Vikings would require starting from the bottom.
How Did Brock Lesnar Perform With the Vikings?
Lesnar entered training camp as a defensive tackle after nine years away from organized football. An April motorcycle accident had interrupted his preparation, but workouts with Minnesota earned him an opportunity.
His first padded practice showed how much work remained. Playing with the third-string defense, Lesnar repeatedly got pushed backward by blockers. Defensive line coach Brian Baker said his improvements were still in the basics. Teammate Chris Hovan, who roomed with Lesnar during camp, offered to help him develop.
The Vikings also tested him beyond the defensive line. In his preseason debut against Arizona, Lesnar played on kickoff coverage and the field-goal blocking unit before taking defensive snaps late in the fourth quarter. He wore No. 69, working through the assignments that could help a player earn a roster spot.
By the end of August, head coach Mike Tice’s assessment had improved.
“We didn’t think he’d be able to pick it up so quickly,” Tice said, adding that Lesnar had played well in Minnesota’s latest preseason game.
How Did His NFL Attempt End?
The Vikings released Lesnar on August 30, 2004. His progress had exceeded Tice’s expectations, but it hadn’t secured a roster spot.
But another route remained. Tice declined to predict whether Minnesota would add him to its practice squad, but supported sending him to NFL Europe for further development the following spring.
Lesnar didn’t take that path. Recalling the decision on Spittin’ Chiclets in 2026, he explained that the proposed move came after years spent traveling. He returned to professional wrestling with New Japan in 2005.
Minnesota had given him the opportunity he requested. He played preseason football, earned praise for his improvement, and left without a regular-season job.
Continuing meant another commitment away from home. Brock Lesnar had been willing to start over, but he wasn’t willing to keep chasing football at the expense of the life he wanted back.
