Jimmy Kleinsasser is a career quality starter — a tight end whose body of work places Kleinsasser in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Kleinsasser's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.

TEMIN#40ACT

Jimmy Kleinsasser

Top 34% all-time TEsHigh-End Starter🏆 Clutch · +38% playoffs 🌅 Early Bloomer · 2002Two-Way Profile

Height6'3"

Weight272 lb

BornJan 31, 1977

Age49

CollegeNorth Dakota See College Stats

Rookie yr1999

Draft1999 · Rd 2, Pick 44 · MIN

Archetype Intelligence

High-End StarterExplore archetypes →

A quality tight end with a above-average career — a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 44 · #2220 · Above Average

Worth 44 points of value above a freely-available replacement tight end — top 49% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 5 of 12 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +8.8 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

5 cleared

7 replaced

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+8.8

Avg surplus

peak +19

5 seasons × ~8.8 surplus ≈ VORP 44

Combined Season Grid

The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.

4 grids split in one view

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Receiving									Rushing								Defense													Advanced (EPA)
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Pass AirYd	Rec AirYd
1999	—	MIN	6	—	10	6	13	0	60.0%	2.2	1.3	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-13.7	0	0
2000	—	MIN	11	—	14	10	98	0	71.4%	9.8	7.0	—	4	12	43	0	3.6	0.0	2	16.7	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	GB	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-1.7	-2.2	0	0
2001	—	MIN	11	—	28	24	184	0	85.7%	7.7	6.6	—	8	23	72	1	3.1	4.3	6	26.1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001	—	CAR	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-5.1	0.7	0	0
2002	—	MIN	14	—	50	37	393	1	74.0%	10.6	7.9	—	22	6	17	0	2.8	0.0	1	16.7	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2002	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-0.6	18.3	0	0
2003	—	MIN	14	—	46	46	401	4	100.0%	8.7	8.7	—	23	2	15	0	7.5	0.0	1	50.0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003	—	KC	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	3	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2003	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1.4	41.2	0	0
2004	—	MIN	1	—	2	2	24	0	100.0%	12.0	12.0	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2004	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1.8	0	0
2005	—	MIN	13	—	22	22	171	0	100.0%	7.8	7.8	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	TB	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2005	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	7.4	0	0
2006	—	MIN	6	—	7	7	47	0	100.0%	6.7	6.7	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	NE	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2006	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.1	0	29
2007	—	MIN	4	—	4	4	43	1	100.0%	10.8	10.8	—	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	—	WAS	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2007	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.9	0	25
2008	—	MIN	5	—	6	6	92	0	100.0%	15.3	15.3	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008	—	CHI	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2008	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8.4	0	50
2009	—	MIN	9	—	16	10	70	0	62.5%	7.0	4.4	—	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009	—	ARI	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2009	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-2.8	0	105
2010	—	MIN	14	—	21	17	148	0	81.0%	8.7	7.0	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-0.1	0	84
2011	—	MIN	5	—	6	1	4	0	16.7%	4.0	0.7	—	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	—	LV	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2011	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	-2.8	0	54
Career		—	125	—	232	192	1,688	6	82.8%	8.8	7.3	—	84	43	147	1	3.4	2.3	10	23.3	1	13	13	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	—	-6.0	61.3	0	347

Career EPA55.3·-6 rushing · 61 receiving·4.3/season

Rushing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	VAL
2000	23	MIN	11	—	12	43	0	3.6	0.0	2	16.7	0	2.7
2001	24	MIN	11	—	23	72	1	3.1	4.3	6	26.1	1	5
2002	25	MIN	14	—	6	17	0	2.8	0.0	1	16.7	0	9.5
2003	26	MIN	14	—	2	15	0	7.5	0.0	1	50.0	0	12.3
Career			50		43	147	1	3.4	—	10	—	1	50

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
1999	22	MIN	6	—	10	6	13	0	60.0%	2.2	1.3	—	2
2000	23	MIN	11	—	14	10	98	0	71.4%	9.8	7.0	—	4
2001	24	MIN	11	—	28	24	184	0	85.7%	7.7	6.6	—	8
2002	25	MIN	14	—	50	37	393	1	74.0%	10.6	7.9	—	22
2003	26	MIN	14	—	46	46	401	4	100.0%	8.7	8.7	—	23
2004	27	MIN	1	—	2	2	24	0	100.0%	12.0	12.0	—	1
2005	28	MIN	13	—	22	22	171	0	100.0%	7.8	7.8	—	6
2006	29	MIN	6	—	7	7	47	0	100.0%	6.7	6.7	—	1
2007	30	MIN	4	—	4	4	43	1	100.0%	10.8	10.8	—	3
2008	31	MIN	5	—	6	6	92	0	100.0%	15.3	15.3	—	5
2009	32	MIN	9	—	16	10	70	0	62.5%	7.0	4.4	—	3
2010	33	MIN	14	—	21	17	148	0	81.0%	8.7	7.0	—	6
2011	34	MIN	5	—	6	1	4	0	16.7%	4.0	0.7	—	0
Career			113		232	192	1,688	6	82.8%	8.8	7.3	—	84

Defense

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tkl	Solo	Sk	Dis	FR
2000	23	GB	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2001	24	CAR	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2003	26	KC	3	—	3	3	0.0	0.0	—
2005	28	TB	1	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
2006	29	NE	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2007	30	WAS	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2008	31	CHI	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2009	32	ARI	1	—	1	1	0.0	0.0	—
2011	34	LV	2	—	2	2	0.0	0.0	—
Career			12		13	13	—	—	—

Advanced (EPA)

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Pass EPA	Rush EPA	Rec EPA	Rec AirYd
1999	22	—	—	—	—	—	-13.7	0
2000	23	—	—	—	—	-1.7	-2.2	0
2001	24	—	—	—	—	-5.1	0.7	0
2002	25	—	—	—	—	-0.6	18.3	0
2003	26	—	—	—	—	1.4	41.2	0
2004	27	—	—	—	—	—	1.8	0
2005	28	—	—	—	—	—	7.4	0
2006	29	—	—	—	—	—	2.1	29
2007	30	—	—	—	—	—	2.9	25
2008	31	—	—	—	—	—	8.4	50
2009	32	—	—	—	—	—	-2.8	105
2010	33	—	—	—	—	—	-0.1	84
2011	34	—	—	—	—	—	-2.8	54
Career					—	—	—	347

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 53 · Solid

A solid career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 53 of 100, era-normalized against rec yds/g peers across 12 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 50.6 × longevity 1 = KV-H 53· confidence 86%

What builds the career mark of 45

On-field 32.1

Availability 12.9

On-field production Staying available

Season-by-season quality (era-relative rec yds/g)

1999bestavg 392011

All-Time Standing

how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position

Depth

of 100

Reached 12% of the all-time Receptions leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.

12% of the all-time Receptions leader12

0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0

4.25 EPA/season over 13 seasons51

A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 88%.

Career Aging Trajectory

vs. position group average · KV-H basis

Amber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average tight ends aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).

Playoff vs Regular Season

🏆 Playoff Performer

Yards / Reception: 8.8 regular season → 12.1 playoffs (4 playoff seasons)

+38%

vs reg season

Postseason Career

5 playoff games

Receiving

Tgt7Rec7Yds85Ctch%100.0%Y/R12.1Y/Tgt12.11D5

Advanced (EPA)

Rec EPA6.8Rec AirYd7

College Stats

North DakotaCollege listed; stat table pending import

College stats are not imported for this profile yet.

StatVault has the verified college attribution (North Dakota), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.

Reference Graph

Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.

1999 Draft Class· this player went #44

#36Mike PetersonOLB #37Jon JansenOT #38Mike RuckerDE #39J.J. JohnsonRB #40Tony BryantDE #41Dre' BlyCB #42Reggie KellyTE #43Rob KonradFB #45Rahim AbdullahOLB #46Kevin FaulkRB #47Fred VinsonCB #48Russell DavisDT #49Joe MontgomeryRB #50Shaun KingQB #51Johnny RutledgeLB #52John ThorntonDT

Franchise Succession

the room, before and after

Jimmy inherited the Minnesota Vikings TE room from Andrew Glover (1997–1999), and handed it to Byron Chamberlain (2001–2002).

Steve Jordan 1982–1994Mike Mularkey 1983–1988Andrew Jordan 1994–2001Greg DeLong 1995–1998Hunter Goodwin 1996–2003Andrew Glover

Similar Players

Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).

Movementderived from season history

2011final season
Last recorded season with MIN
1999draft
Drafted by MIN — Round 2, Pick 44

Athletic & Unique Profile

verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts

6'3" / 272 lb

Frame

Injury History

No game-status injuries on record since 2009 (nflverse weekly reports).

Knox

StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →

Historical Knox · KV-H

Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 12-season peers. See all →

peak 59

Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season

F1999

C2000

C+2001

B2002

B2003

C2005

F2006

F2007

F2008

D2009

C2010

F2011

Availability

Era Translator

Rec Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.

Season	Actual Rec Yds	Rec Yds/G	→ 2025 Rec Yds	→ 2025 /G
1999	13	2.2	140+127	8.2
2000	98	8.9	208+110	12.2
2001	184	16.7	355+171	20.9
2002	393	28.1	596+203	35
2003	401	28.6	563+162	33.1
2005	171	13.2	195+24	11.5
2006	47	7.8	103+56	6.1
2007	43	10.8	171+128	10
2008	92	18.4	304+212	17.9
2009	70	7.8	116+46	6.8
2010	148	10.6	174+26	10.2
2011	4	0.8	29+25	1.7

Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026

Career Value · VORP

44 career value over replacement — #2220 all-time of 4,642. 3.7/season above a replacement-level TE.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #44 (Rd 2) · MIN · 1999 · +3.2 vs expected KV-H

53actual

49.8 expected · Δ+3.2

Fan Rating

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Compare Jimmy Kleinsasser vs Player Report data error

Jimmy Kleinsasser

Archetype Intelligence

Career Value · VORP

Combined Season Grid

Rushing

Receiving

Defense

Advanced (EPA)

KV-H Anatomy

All-Time Standing

Career Aging Trajectory

Postseason Career

Receiving

Advanced (EPA)

College Stats

Reference Graph

Top Teammates

1999 Draft Class· this player went #44

Franchise Succession

Similar Players

Movementderived from season history

Athletic & Unique Profile

Injury History

Knox

Era Translator

Career Geography