Josh Metellus is a former Michigan Wolverines defensive back who has gone on to play a pivotal role for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings’ defensive backfield.
Recently, Mettelus spoke with the London-based Metro Sport YouTube channel during which he revealed the one player in the NFL he wants to pay back for something he did to him early on in his playing career: Aaron Rodgers.
Metellus said that Rodgers was the first player to ever throw a touchdown against him in the NFL, which is why he said he wants to get “payback” against him.
“Now I sack quarterbacks too so I might really get some payback,” Metellus said on the channel.
The Vikings host Rodgers and the Jets on October 6 in London, UK.
The 5-foot-11, 207 pound safety Metellus has been an unsung hero for the Vikings’ defense under coach Kevin O’Connell. He had 78 solo tackles, four forced fumbles and five passes defensed last year for Minnesota, becoming a focal point of coordinator Brian Flores’ defensive unit.
Metellus has been called the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of the Vikings’ defense. He has received large amounts of Pro Bowl votes from NFL fans but was snubbed from the postseason All-Star game in 2024, which led him to share a boast on Twitter back in January.
“Next year my year,” Metellus stated on X. “I ain’t earn it yet, but I’m going too [sic]!”
Greg Seifert of ESPN went to bat for Metellus that same month, one day prior to the release of the former sixth round pick from Michigan’s Pro Bowl manifesto.
“Josh Metellus led the NFL’s fan voting at the strong safety position and is a second alternate for the Pro Bowl,” Seifert wrote.
“But he actually hasn’t played much safety this season. Instead, Metellus has been defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ hybrid defensive ‘weapon.'”
Metellus is penciled in as the projected starting nickelback on this year’s Vikings defense, which could be one of the better ones in the NFC.
The Vikings offense is stacked with talent including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones, and Sam Darnold and JJ McCarthy at the quarterback position.
The jury is still out on whether Darnold or McCarthy can effectively lead a team to a division title or at least a playoff spot in a crowded NFC North Division, but one thing appears to be certain: the Vikings, and Josh Metellus, will compete hard to make life tough on opposing NFL teams.