C.J. Ham Bio
Cortez Thaddeus Ham Jr., known professionally as C.J. Ham, is an American professional football fullback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft after playing college football for the Augustana Vikings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ham began his professional career as a running back before transitioning to fullback in 2017, a switch that has defined his role with the franchise ever since.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and 2023, Ham has become one of the most respected special teams contributors and lead blockers in the league. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 250 pounds, he is widely recognized for his physicality, versatility, and long-standing commitment to community service, including being named the Vikings’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in December 2024.
Early Life and Background
Cortez Thaddeus Ham Jr. was born on July 22, 1993, in Duluth, Minnesota, where he grew up and developed his love for sports. He attended Duluth Denfeld High School and graduated in 2011, starring in both football and track and field. On the football field, Ham played running back under head coaches Frank Huie and Chris Vold for the Hunters, earning three varsity letters and serving as a two-year starter. Between his junior and senior seasons, he logged 1,873 total yards and 24 touchdowns on offense while recording 109 tackles on defense, an all-around performance that earned him all-conference and all-section honors along with an all-state honorable mention.
Ham also competed in track and field at Denfeld, an experience that helped him develop the strength and explosive lower-body power that later became central to his athletic identity. His multi-sport background gave him a blend of speed, balance, and physicality that made him an attractive recruit despite playing at a smaller program in South Dakota. After high school, Ham chose to continue his football and track careers at Augustana University, where he would become one of the most decorated multi-sport athletes in school history.
Path to Professional Football
Ham attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from 2011 to 2015, earning four varsity letters each in football and track and field. On the gridiron, he compiled 570 carries for 2,662 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding 96 receptions for 949 yards and six scores. As a redshirt freshman in 2012, he appeared in nine games and made three starts at fullback, finishing with 404 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He moved to running back as a sophomore in 2013 and steadily built production, including a team-high 774 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2014.
His senior season in 2015 was his breakout. Ham rushed for a career-high 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns, was selected to the All-NSIC second team, and was voted the 2015 NSIC Glen Galligan Award recipient for his four-year participation, academic excellence, and positive institutional impact. He also helped lead Augustana to its first playoff appearance since 2010, becoming just the fourth back in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. In track and field, Ham was a two-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honoree in the shot put and set school records in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw.
C.J. Ham Career
Early Career (2016)
Ham participated in the Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp in 2016 on a trial basis and, on May 10, 2016, was signed as an undrafted free agent to the team’s 90-man roster, becoming only the fifth player in Augustana history to sign with an NFL team. He impressed immediately in the preseason, leading the Vikings in rushing with 140 yards on 44 carries and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 10-yard touchdown run in his first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite that strong showing, Ham was released as part of final roster cuts on September 3, 2016, and signed to the practice squad the next day. He remained there for most of his rookie year before being promoted to the active roster on December 23, providing a glimpse of his perseverance and the trust the Vikings’ coaching staff had in his development.
NFL Breakthrough and Pro Bowl Recognition (2017-2019)
During the 2017 rookie minicamp, Ham announced his switch from running back to fullback, replacing Zach Line, who had signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. He made the 53-man roster and scored his first NFL touchdown on his first NFL carry, a one-yard plunge against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, finishing the year with seven carries for 13 yards and a touchdown, plus seven receptions for 68 yards.
Ham expanded his role in 2018, appearing in 15 games and recording 11 receptions for 85 yards, and then played all 16 games in 2019, finishing with 17 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. His reliable blocking, special teams value, and steady offensive production earned him his first career Pro Bowl selection at the conclusion of the 2019 season, validating the position change and cementing his place in the Vikings’ core.
Contract Years and Continued Production (2020-2022)
On March 18, 2020, Ham signed a three-year, $12.25 million contract extension with Minnesota, a clear sign that the franchise viewed him as a foundational piece of its offense and special teams units. He appeared in 15 games with 11 starts in 2020 and scored a receiving touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13, while also continuing to log meaningful snaps on special teams.
Ham played all 17 games in 2021, recording seven carries for 34 yards and 17 receptions for 125 yards, then matched that durability in 2022 by appearing in all 17 games with four starts and rushing for two touchdowns. Across this stretch, he quietly became one of the NFL’s most dependable fullbacks, valued as much for his leadership and intangibles as for his on-field statistics.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2023-Present)
On March 24, 2023, Ham signed a two-year contract extension that keeps him under contract with the Vikings through the 2025 season. In 2023 he appeared in all 17 games in a hybrid offensive and special teams role, and his strong all-around campaign earned him a second career Pro Bowl selection. On December 5, 2024, the Vikings named him the team’s nominee for the 2024-2025 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing his years of community involvement, volunteer work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and his advocacy for children with disabilities.
Ham appeared in all 17 games in 2024, splitting time between offense and special teams, but missed the first four games of the 2025 season after being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was activated on October 4, 2025, and returned to the active roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ham is best known for his physicality at the point of attack, his willingness as a lead blocker, and his reliability in short-yardage and goal-line situations. His track and field background shows up in his explosive first step and in his strength as a power-based runner when called upon, while his experience as a collegiate running back gives him the route-running polish and receiving instincts of a much more featured offensive player.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ham’s signature moments are his first NFL touchdown on his first career carry against Pittsburgh in 2017, his two career Pro Bowl selections in 2019 and 2023, and his 2020 contract extension that secured his long-term future in Minnesota. His December 2024 nomination as the Vikings’ Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate stands as one of the most meaningful off-field honors of his career.
C.J. Ham Career Highlights
Ham’s professional resume is anchored by his longevity with a single franchise and his continued excellence in a position that has all but disappeared across much of the modern NFL. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a multi-year starter on special teams, and he has appeared in well over 100 regular-season games for the Minnesota Vikings since first signing with the team in 2016.
Minnesota Vikings Highlights
With the Vikings, Ham’s most memorable highlight remains his Week 2 touchdown against the Steelers in 2017, a one-yard run that announced his arrival as the team’s new starting fullback. He has since added Pro Bowl selections in 2019 and 2023, a multi-year contract extension in 2020 worth $12.25 million, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination in 2024. Across his Vikings tenure, he has routinely logged 15 or more games played per season and has been a staple on special teams coverage and return units in addition to his offensive duties.
College and Pre-Professional Performances
At Augustana, Ham finished his career with 2,662 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 96 receptions, and 949 receiving yards, capping his senior season with 1,097 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2015. He also set Augustana records in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw and was a two-time All-NSIC shot put honoree.
C.J. Ham Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ham was raised in Duluth, Minnesota, and has consistently credited his family and hometown community for shaping his work ethic and character. While specific details about his parents and immediate relatives are not publicly documented in available sources, he has spoken openly about how growing up in Duluth and competing at Duluth Denfeld High School prepared him for the demands of college and professional football.
Off the field, Ham studied physical education and health at Augustana with plans to teach and coach football and track and field after his playing days. He is a Christian and has been an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volunteering at Embrace Church and serving as a peer educator and mentor in the Sioux Falls School District since his freshman year of college. He has also volunteered weekly with the Boys and Girls Club, participated in numerous Habitat for Humanity projects, and worked as a speaker in advocacy groups for children with disabilities. Ham has spoken publicly about managing a lifelong speech disorder and has used his platform to encourage young people to believe in themselves.
2025 Season Performance
Ham began the 2025 season on injured reserve after a knee injury and missed the first four games of the year. He was activated on October 4, 2025, and returned to the Vikings’ active roster, rejoining a Minnesota team that values his blocking, special teams play, and veteran leadership. With his contract scheduled to run through the end of the 2025 season, his play down the stretch will factor into discussions about his future with the franchise.
Even while injured, Ham remained a vocal presence in the locker room and continued his community outreach, reinforcing his standing as one of the team’s most respected leaders. His performance after returning will be measured not only in traditional fullback statistics but also in the impact he has on the Vikings’ run game, third-down efficiency, and special teams units.
Heading into the second half of 2025, Ham is positioned to continue serving as a core special teams contributor and situational offensive weapon for Minnesota. Whether this season represents the final chapter of his current contract or a springboard to a new deal, his durability, leadership, and community impact ensure that his influence on the Vikings extends well beyond the box score.