Andrew Victor Sendejo (born September 9, 1987) is a former

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

Owls Owls are birds from the Order (biology), order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly Solitary animal, solitary and Nocturnal animal, nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vis ...

, and was signed by the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League (UFL) as a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

in 2010. Sendejo was also a member of the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...

, and

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

Early life

Sendejo is a 2006 graduate of Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, northeast of

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

. He was a two-time All-San Antonio area selection for coach Larry Hill. Also a two-time honorable mention All-State pick, and a two-time All-District 26-5A honoree. As a senior, he had 75

tackles Tackle may refer to: * In football: ** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football ** Tackle (gridiron football position) A tackle is a playing position in American football. Historically, in the one-platoon system prevalent ...

(3 for loss), four

interceptions In ball-playing competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for a player of the same team bu ...

, eight pass deflections, one forced

fumble A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful h ...

and one fumble recovery, helping lead the Rangers to a 13–2 record and the Class 5A semifinals. He was named Comal County defensive player of the year for his senior season efforts. He was also a regional finalist and academic All-district. Sendejo selected Rice over Tulane,

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

North Texas North Texas is a term used primarily by residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to refer to a geographic area of Texas, generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, Texas, Abilene, west of Paris, Texas, Par ...

, Northwestern and

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

. In addition to

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

, Sendejo also lettered in

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

, where he was twice a second-team All-district selection and academic All-district pick, helping Smithson Valley to the district and bi-district championships. He also participated in

track & field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and ...

for the Rangers; at the 2004 District 27-5A Championships, he placed third in the 400-meter dash (52.80 seconds), sixth in the

triple jump The triple jump, sometimes referred to as the hop, step and jump or the hop, skip and jump, is a track and field event, similar to long jump. As a group, the two events are referred to as the "horizontal jumps". The competitor runs down the tr ...

(12.04m or 39'4") and fifth in the

pole vault Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a #bar, bar. Pole jumping was already practiced by the ...

(3.53m or 11'6"). As a junior in 2005, he posted a personal-best time of 52.02 seconds in the 400-meter dash at the Texas State High School Invitational.

College career

, Sendejo saw his senior season come to an early conclusion after suffering a severe high ankle sprain at East Carolina that required surgery. He was a Preseason All

C-USA Conference USA (CUSA) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern United States, Southern and Western United States. The conference participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Associ ...

pick by conference coaches and a three-year starter who opened the season as the national leader among active players in solo tackles and also ranked in the top 10 among active players in career total tackles, career interceptions and interception returns for touchdowns. He was a Second-team All

preseason selection by the media in a poll conducted by the

New Orleans Times-Picayune ''The Times-Picayune , The New Orleans Advocate'' (commonly called ''The Times-Picayune'' or the ''T-P'') is an American newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ancestral publications of other names date back to January 25, 1837. The cu ...

. He also earned an Honorable Mention All

honors from league coaches even with a shortened senior season, and was named one of 12 finalist for the 2009

Wuerffel Trophy The Wuerffel Trophy is an award given annually to the college football player "who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement." The trophy, designed by W. Stanley Proctor and named in honor of former Univers ...

, which honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement. He was a three-time

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District VI academic honoree as well as a three-time

All Academic Football team with a 3.55

GPA Grading in education is the application of standardized measurements to evaluate different levels of student achievement in a course. Grades can be expressed as letters (usually A to F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), percentages, or as num ...

in sports management.

2006 season

A starter from the first whistle of the season who went on to earn honorable mention freshman

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

recognition from

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and

all-freshman honors from the media, Sendejo made 10 starts on the season in 11 played games, missing just the UAB game with an injury. He finished fifth on the team with 49 total

from the Spur position, tied for fourth on the squad with seven tackles for loss and was second on the team by forcing three

fumbles A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful ...

. He forced one fumble and recovered a second to set up a touchdown for the Owls against

Tulsa Tulsa ( ) is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tul ...

. He opened the season with a 13-yard

sack A sack usually refers to a rectangular-shaped bag. Sack may also refer to: Bags * Flour sack * Gunny sack * Hacky sack, sport * Money sack * Paper sack * Sleeping bag * Stuff sack * Knapsack Other uses * Bed, a slang term * Sack (band), ...

of Kevin Kolb of

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

and closed it with a seven-yard sack of Justin Willis of SMU.

2007 season

As a sophomore in 2007, Sendejo led the team with 107

and five

. His five interceptions were the most by an Owl since

Dan Dawson Dan Dawson (born December 11, 1981) is a Canadian former professional box lacrosse player formally playing for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League, Brampton Excelsiors (MSL) of Major Series Lacrosse, and is currently a free agent ...

tied the school record with seven in 2000 and match the third-best total by an Owl in a season. He earned honorable mention All

honors by the coaches and third-team All conference mention by Phil Steele. Also named Academic All-Conference and All-District VI for his work in the classroom as well. He closed the season strongly, registering back-to-back double figure tackle efforts against Tulane (11) and

(13). He posted four double figure games on the season, including a career-best 18-tackle day at

Marshall Marshall may refer to: Places Australia *Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria ** Marshall railway station Canada * Marshall, Saskatchewan * The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia Liberia * Marshall, Liberia Marshall Is ...

, the most by an Owl since Jeff Vanover was credited with 18 against SMU in 2001. He was named

Defensive Player of the Week against Southern Miss after picking off a pair of passes, forcing a fumble, and registering seven tackles, becoming the first Owl to pick off more than one pass in a game since Dan Dawson picked off three vs. Hawaii back in 2000. He was credited with eight tackles, shared a tackle for loss, forced and recovered a fumble and broke up a pass at

. He returned his interception against SMU 31 yards for a score for his first career

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

2008 season

Sendejo was an honorable mention All

pick by the coaches, second-team pick by the

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. ...

, while Phil Steele placed him on his first-team, All-conference unit. He led the Owls with 94 total

despite missing nearly three full games with a high ankle sprain. He also totaled 89 yards in returns, bringing back an interception 55 yards for a

and returning a fumble 34 yards to set up a second score. That interception return was his second of his career for a score, with both coming against SMU. He was fifth in

stats with 8.55 tackles per game (51st nationally) and 22nd in

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

stats with 5.4 solo tackles per game. He opened the year by earning

Defensive Player of the Week honors for his game vs. SMU. He had back-to-back 13-tackle efforts at Memphis and Vanderbilt, then was credited with a season-high 17 tackles at

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, one shy of his career-high of 18 set in 2007 at

. He saw his streak of double-figure tackle games end at three when he was credited for three stops against

. In that game, he made his debut as the Owls'

punt returner A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punt (gridiron football), punts and kickoff (gridiron football), kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusivel ...

, fielding a pair for no gain, then returned his third for a gain of 21. He got injured early in the

game and did not record a tackle. He missed the Southern Miss game, breaking a streak of 24 consecutive games played (23 starts). He also missed the Tulane game, and then returned to action against UTEP and led the Owls with eight tackles. He closed out the regular season by recording his fifth double-figure tackle game of the year with 13 vs.

. It was his ninth career double-figure tackle game.

2009 season

As a senior, Sendejo was named to Phil Steele's Midseason All

Third-team. He was able to play in only 7 games, after his season was cut short by a high ankle injury that required surgery. He was tied for sixth in the nation with 6.4 unassisted tackles per game at the time of his injury. He moved into a tie for second on the Owls' career tackle chart with nine stops at ECU, and jumped four spots on the tackling chart with 17 tackles vs.

Navy A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...

, matching the second highest game total of his career. It was his 11th career double-figure tackle game. He was the

career active leader with 216 career solo

( Sean Weatherspoon of

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

was second with 199) before he got hurt. He ranked fourth in

and 14th in the nation with a 14.3 yard average per punt return before his injury. He returned two punts for 65 yards vs. Vanderbilt, including a career best 47 yarder, the longest by an Owl since 1998 when LaDouphyous McCalla returned one 51 yards against Colorado State. He missed part of the Texas Tech game after injuring a wrist, but returned to finish the game. He recorded his 10th career double-digit tackle total in the opener at UAB with 15 stops. He finished his college career with 318 tackles (second in school history), 9 interceptions (seventh in school history), 2 sacks and 7 forced fumbles.

Professional career

Sendejo went undrafted in the

2010 NFL draft The 2010 NFL draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. The 2010 NFL draft, draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first ...

, and did not receive any offers to sign as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

. He attended

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...

minicamp with the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

, but did not receive a contract offer upon completion. Sendejo also attended a tryout with the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...

, but did not receive any further interest from the team.

Sacramento Mountain Lions

On August 20, 2010, it was reported that Sendejo signed a contract with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League (UFL). He started at safety for the Mountain Lions and finished the 2010 UFL season with 48 combined tackles (31 solo), seven pass breakups, and two interceptions in eight games and eight starts. He tied for the second most

in the league during the 2010 season and led the Mountain Lions in total tackles and interceptions.

Dallas Cowboys

2010

On November 24, 2010, the

signed Sendejo to a two-year, $725,000 contract to join their

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

as an

unrestricted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

. On November 29, 2010, Sendejo was promoted to the active roster. On December 12, 2010, Sendejo made his NFL debut during a 30–27 loss against the

. On December 19, 2010, Sendejo recorded his first career tackle on kick returner Brandon Banks during a 33–30 victory against the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...

. Sendejo and teammate Sam Hurd tackled Banks on a 22-yard kick return in the second quarter. He finished his rookie season with one tackle in two games. Throughout training camp, Sendejo competed for a roster spot as a backup safety against Collin Zych and Danny McCray. On September 3, 2011, the Dallas Cowboys waived Sendejo as part of their final roster cuts.

New York Jets

On September 4, 2011, the

claimed Sendejo off of waivers and signed him to their active roster. His signing was marred in minor controversy as it was speculated the New York Jets signed him in a bid to gain intelligence of the Dallas Cowboys' defense. At the time, the New York Jets' head coach was Rex Ryan and his twin brother, Rob Ryan, was the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator. Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo stated during a press conference that Rob Ryan had made minor adjustments to the defense to prevent any information to possibly be passed on to the Jets. On September 13, 2011, the New York Jets waived Sendejo. The following day, Sendejo was signed to the Jets' practice squad after clearing waivers. On September 27, 2011, the Jets released Sendejo from their practice squad. After his release, Sendejo verified that the Jets coaching staff had in fact asked him about the Dallas Cowboys' defense, but mainly asked him to verify some tendencies.

Minnesota Vikings

2011

On November 29, 2011, the

signed Sendejo to a two-year, $900,000 contract. On December 11, 2011, Sendejo made his Minnesota Vikings' debut and recorded one solo tackle during their 34–28 loss at the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...

in Week 14. He was inactive as a healthy scratch the following week before appearing in the last two regular season games. He finished the 2011 season with three combined tackles (two solo) in three games and zero starts.

2012

Sendejo entered training camp and competed for a roster spot as a backup safety against Jamarca Sanford, Robert Blanton, and Eric Frampton. Head coach Leslie Frazier named Sendejo the third strong safety on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind rookie Harrison Smith and Jamarca Sanford. He was inactive for the Minnesota Vikings' season-opening 26–23 victory against the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

after sustaining an ankle injury during the preseason. He missed another two games (Weeks 4–5) after aggravating his ankle injury. In Week 7, he made a solo tackle on

Patrick Peterson Patrick De'mon Peterson Jr. ( Johnson; born July 11, 1990) is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he wo ...

during a five-yard punt return in the third quarter of a 21–14 win against the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...

. Sendejo played primarily on special teams in 2012 and finished the season with six solo tackles in 13 games and zero starts. The Minnesota Vikings finished second in the

NFC North The National Football Conference – Northern Division or NFC North is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed the "Black and Blue Division" for the rough and toug ...

with a 10–6 record and earned a wildcard berth. On January 5, 2013, Sendejo appeared in his first career playoff game and recorded a season-high two combined tackles during a 24–10 loss at the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

in the NFC Wildcard Game.

2013

Sendejo became an exclusive rights free agent in 2013 and was required to re-sign with the Vikings if he was offered a contract. On March 15, 2013, the Minnesota Vikings signed Sendejo to a one-year, $630,000 contract for the required veteran league minimum. Throughout

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

, Sendejo competed to be the starting strong safety against Mistral Raymond, Robert Blanton, Jamarca Sanford, Brandan Bishop, and Darius Eubanks. Head coach Leslie Frazier officially named Sendejo a backup strong safety, behind Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond, to start the regular season. On September 19, 2013, the Minnesota Vikings signed Sendejo to a two-year, $2 million

contract A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves consent to transfer of goods, services, money, or promise to transfer any of thos ...

extension that includes $400,000 guaranteed and a

signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...

$200,000. On September 29, 2013, Sendejo earned his first career start in place of Jamarca Sanford, who was inactive due to a

hamstring A hamstring () is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in human anatomy between the hip and the knee: from medial to lateral, the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris. Etymology The word " ham" is derived from the Old ...

injury. Sendejo recorded four solo tackles in a 34–27 victory against the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

in London during their Week 4 contest. In Week 7, Sendejo made his first start at free safety and recorded six combined tackles during a 23–7 loss at the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

. He started nine consecutive games at free safety (Weeks 7–15) after Harrison Smith was placed on injured reserve/designation to return due to a turf toe injury. On November 7, 2013, he collected a career-high 16 combined tackles (eight solo) in the Vikings' 34–27 victory against the

in Week 10. The following week, Sendejo had 11 combined tackles (six solo) during a 41–20 loss at the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...

in Week 11. On December 8, 2013, Sendejo recorded three combined tackles, two pass deflections, and made his first career interception in a 29–26 loss to the

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...

. He intercepted a pass by quarterback Joe Flacco that was originally intended for tight end Ed Dickson in the fourth quarter. He finished

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

with a career-high 84 combined tackles (52 solo), two pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and ten starts. On December 30, 2013, the Minnesota Vikings fired head coach Leslie Frazier after they finished fourth in the NFC North with a 5–10–1 record.

2014

On August 4, 2014, the Minnesota Vikings activated Sendejo off of their physically unable to perform list after he fully recovered from back surgery he underwent in April. He competed against Robert Blanton and Antone Exum to be the starting strong safety. Head coach Mike Zimmer named Sendejo the backup free safety, behind Harrison Smith, to start the 2014 regular season. In Week 15, he started in place of Blanton, who was unable to play due to a leg injury. Sendejo recorded six combined tackles, in Blanton's absence, as the Vikings lost 16–14 at the

. Defensive coordinator George Edwards chose to keep Sendejo as the starting strong safety for the remaining two games (Weeks 16–17), although Blanton had recovered from his leg injury. On December 28, 2014, Sendejo collected a season-high nine combined tackles during a 13–9 win against the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

in Week 17. He finished the season with 27 combined tackles (20 solo) and a forced fumble in 16 games and three starts.

2015

During training camp, Sendejo competed against Robert Blanton, Antone Exum, and Anthony Harris to retain the job as the starting strong safety. Head coach Mike Zimmer named Sendejo the starting strong safety to start the regular season, opposite free safety Harrison Smith. He started in the Minnesota Vikings' season-opener at the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...

and made three solo tackles and blocked a field goal in their 20–3 loss. On the 49ers' opening drive, Sendejo blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by kicker

Phil Dawson Philip Drury Dawson (born January 23, 1975) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns football, Texas Lo ...

and it was recovered by teammate

Marcus Sherels Marcus John Sherels (born September 30, 1987) is a former American football cornerback and return specialist. He played college football at Minnesota Golden Gophers football, Minnesota, and was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent i ...

at the Vikings' 44-yard line. He was sidelined for the Vikings' Week 4 loss at the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...

due to a knee injury. On November 8, 2015, Sendejo collected seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and was credited with half a sack to mark the first of his career during a 21–18 overtime victory against the

St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1995 through the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, California, where the team had played ...

in Week 9. He sacked quarterback

Nick Foles Nicholas Edward Foles (born January 20, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. A member of six teams, he achieved his greatest success wi ...

for an eight-yard loss with teammate Linval Joseph in the third quarter. Sendejo aggravated his knee injury and was inactive for two more games (Weeks 13–14). In Week 16, he made three solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by

Eli Manning Elisha Nelson Manning (born January 3, 1981) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons with the New York Giants. A member of the Manning family, he is the youngest ...

during a 49–17 win against the

. On January 3, 2016, Sendejo collected a season-high 14 combined tackles (nine solo) in the Vikings' 20–13 win against the

in Week 17. He finished the 2015 season with 74 combined tackles (58 solo), three passes defensed, and one interception in 13 games and 13 starts. He ranked 78th among the 88 qualified safeties in 2015 from Pro Football Focus. The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2015 season first in the

with an 11–5 record and earned a playoff berth. On January 10, 2016, Sendejo started his first career playoff game and made three solo tackles and a pass deflection during the Vikings' 10–9 loss to the

in the NFC Wildcard Game.

2016

On March 5, 2016, the Minnesota Vikings signed Sendejo to a four-year, $16 million contract that includes $3.95 million guaranteed. On September 18, 2016, Sendejo collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) during a 17–14 win against the

in Week 2. In Week 5, he made six combined tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in the Vikings' 31–13 win against the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...

. The following game, Sendejo deflected a pass and made an interception during a 21–10 loss at the

in Week 7. He was inactive for the Vikings' Week 8 loss at the

after injuring his ankle the previous week. On December 31, 2016, the Minnesota Vikings placed Sendejo on injured reserve due to a knee injury he sustained in practice. Sendejo finished the 2016 season with 69 combined tackles (45 solo), four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and was credited with half a sack in 14 games and 14 starts. Sendejo earned an overall grade of 78.6 from Pro Football Focus in 2016.

2017

Sendejo entered training camp slated as the starting strong safety. Head coach Mike Zimmer officially named Sendejo and Harrison Smith the starting safety duo to begin the 2017 regular season. On September 24, 2017, Sendejo recorded five combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass attempt by quarterback Jameis Winston in the Vikings' 34–17 victory against the

. The following week, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (five solo) during a 14–7 loss to the

in Week 4. He was inactive during a Week 6 win against the

due to a

groin In human anatomy, the groin, also known as the inguinal region or iliac region, is the junctional area between the torso and the thigh. The groin is at the front of the body on either side of the pubic tubercle, where the lower part of the abdom ...

injury. In Week 7, Sendejo delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit while tackling wide receiver

Mike Wallace Myron Leon Wallace (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012) was an American journalist, game show host, actor, and media personality. Known for his investigative journalism, he interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers during his seven-decade car ...

which caused Wallace to exit the game a due to a

concussion A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a head injury that temporarily affects brain functioning. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, difficulty with thinking and concentration, sleep disturbances, a brief ...

. The next day, Sendejo was suspended one game for violating the league's player safety rules. On December 10, 2017, Sendejo recorded nine combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made an interception off a pass by

Cam Newton Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He is the NFL le ...

in a 31–24 loss at the

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

. He completed the 2017 season with 80 combined tackles (54 solo), seven passes defensed, and two interceptions in 13 games and 13 starts. Pro Football Focus gave Sendejo an overall grade of 86.8, which ranked 11th among all qualified safeties in

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

. The

finished atop of their division with a 13–3 record and earned a first round bye. On January 10, 2018, Sendejo collected four solo tackles, deflected two passes, and made an interception during Minnesota's to 29–24 comeback victory against the

in the NFC Divisional Round. He intercepted a pass attempt thrown by quarterback

Drew Brees Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. A member of the New Orleans Saints for most of his career, Brees is sec ...

in the first quarter that was originally intended for wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. The following week, Sendejo collected four solo tackles as the Minnesota Vikings were routed 38–7 by the

in the

NFC Championship Game The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal National Football League playoffs, playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional Ame ...

2018

In 2018, Sendejo started the first five games before suffering a groin injury in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was inactive the next six games before being placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2018. On March 11, 2019, the Vikings declined the option on Sendejo's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Philadelphia Eagles

On March 18, 2019, the

signed Sendejo to a one-year contract. In week 2 against the

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...

, he recorded his second career sack on Matt Ryan in the 24–20 loss. In week 6 against the

, he recorded an interception off former teammate

Kirk Cousins Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans football, Mi ...

in the 38–20 loss. He was waived on November 5, 2019.

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

On November 6, 2019, Sendejo was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings. In Sendejo's first game back with the Vikings, he recorded a team high 7 tackles and intercepted a pass thrown by Brandon Allen in the 27–23 comeback win over the

in week 11. In week 14 against the

, Sendejo intercepted a pass thrown by rookie quarterback David Blough late in the fourth quarter to seal a 20–7 Vikings win.

Cleveland Browns

On March 27, 2020, Sendejo signed a one-year contract with the

. He was placed on the reserve/

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

list by the team on December 29, and activated on January 7, 2021.

Indianapolis Colts

On September 14, 2021, Sendejo was signed by the

NFL statistics

Personal life

Sendejo is of Mexican descent. He earned a degree in sports management from Rice. On March 2, at 3:05pm at the historic Rice stadium, Andrew was engaged to fellow Rice alumni Annie Kadota, class of 2012.

References

External links

Just Sports StatsVikings: Andrew Sendejo takes long, winding road to starting lineup
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sendejo, Andrew 1987 births Living people People from Bulverde, Texas Sportspeople from Greater San Antonio Players of American football from Comal County, Texas American sportspeople of Mexican descent American football safeties Rice Owls football players Sacramento Mountain Lions players Dallas Cowboys players New York Jets players Minnesota Vikings players Philadelphia Eagles players Cleveland Browns players Indianapolis Colts players Hispanic and Latino American players of American football