A walk-on turned national champion blocker at Michigan, Max Bredeson was drafted by Minnesota to fill the fullback void left by two-time Pro Bowler C.J. Ham.
Max Bredeson is a fullback who went from preferred walk-on to captain and championship contributor at Michigan before the Vikings drafted him in the fifth round in 2026. He was brought in specifically to replace longtime Vikings fullback C.J. Ham, who retired in March, and continues a family football tradition alongside his brother Ben, an NFL offensive lineman.
Path to the league
Bredeson walked on at Michigan in 2021 and earned a scholarship after his first year, developing into a captain-caliber blocker by the end of his career. The Vikings drafted him in the fifth round, No. 159 overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Bredeson was a key blocking piece on Michigan's 2023 national championship team, appearing in all 15 games and helping pave the way for star running back Blake Corum. He was a two-time team captain in 2024 and 2025, earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025, and won the Lowman Trophy as the top fullback in college football that same year.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Michigan, Bredeson served as team captain and was recognized as the nation's top fullback with the Lowman Trophy, alongside third-team All-Big Ten honors. That senior-year performance made him one of the most decorated fullback prospects in his draft class and led directly to Minnesota selecting him to replace the retiring C.J. Ham.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Max Bredeson
- Vikings.com: 2026 NFL Draft - Fullback Max Bredeson, Michigan, Draft Pick 159
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Fullback
- Group
- offense
- College
- Michigan
- Hometown
- Hartland, WI, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
