Chad Greenway: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent LB

Danny WebsterFeb 18, 2016

Chad Greenway has played with the Minnesota Vikings his entire career, and there appears to be mutual interest to bring him back.

Continue for updates.

Greenway and Vikings to Continue Talks

Thursday, Feb. 18

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said Thursday he and Greenway's agent will meet some more as the offseason progresses, per Eric Smith of the Vikings' official website.

“I had a very good conversation with Chad after the season,” Spielman said. “We’ll have a few more conversations with his agent.”

Greenway just completed his ninth year in the league and appeared in all 16 games for the eighth time of his career. He recorded 69 tackles and a 91-yard interception return for a touchdown while starting 12 games for the NFC North champion Vikings in 2015.

Tackles	Sacks	Interceptions	Forced Fumbles	Touchdowns
1,061	18	10	8	2

The longest-tenured Viking on the roster—drafted out of the University of Iowa in 2006—Greenway told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press after Minnesota lost its Wild Card Game to the Seattle Seahawks that he wanted to return to the Vikings.

“Who knows what’s going to happen? Obviously, there’s offseason decisions, but it just doesn’t seem like the immediacy of this ends right now," he said. "This football team shouldn’t be going home right now, and that’s hard. … There’s enough football left in me to play another season and try to go out differently.’’

Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said he would like Greenway back, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. One way Zimmer could best utilize Greenway could be in a two-down role, as Goessling noted: "The Vikings probably need to address their linebacker depth after trading Gerald Hodges, especially considering Audie Cole will also be a free agent, but bringing Greenway back on a modest deal could make sense, especially given his value to a young defense."

The last part in Goessling's analysis is the key reason why the Vikings should re-sign Greenway. Minnesota's defense has young talent, with the likes of Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks (both age 23) anchoring the front seven. Having Greenway return to help mold those two would benefit the Vikings in the long run.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.