NFL CAREER – Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, Wilson will provide experience and depth to the Saints linebacker corps and special teams units. In five seasons with the Vikings (2017-21), Philadelphia Eagles (2021) and Houston Texans (2021), the Redford, Mich. native has appeared in 78 regular season games with 27 starts and recorded 278 tackles (153 solo), eight sacks, four interception returns for 30 yards, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 26 special teams tackles. He's appeared in four postseason games with two starts, posting 14 tackles (nine solo) and a coverage stop.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by New Orleans, 5/16/22; Awarded to Houston off waivers from Philadelphia, 11/4/21; Waived by Philadelphia, 11/3/21; Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to a one-year contract (UFA-MIN), 4/14/21; Re-signed to a one-year contract by Vikings, 5/8/20; Signed by the Minnesota Vikings to a three-year contract as an undrafted free agent, 5/1/17.
2021 – Played in 14 games with two starts for the Eagles and Texans, tallying 44 tackles (19 solo), one interception return for seven yards, one pass defense and two special teams stops…Picked off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it seven yards, at Kansas City, Oct. 3, adding 11 tackles in his only start of the season at middle linebacker. 2020 – Finished his final season in Minnesota as the only NFL player to post 100+ tackles (team-leading, career-high 122), 3.0+ sacks (three) and three interceptions (three returned for 23 yards), playing in all 16 games with 15 starts. Also had a team-best eight stops for loss, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, a special teams tackle and a blocked PAT attempt…Led the Vikings with nine tackles (four solo) and also blocked a PAT attempt by Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein vs. Dallas, Nov. 22…Produced a career-high 13 tackles (eight solo) and intercepted Lions QB Matthew Stafford during the third quarter of win vs. Detroit, Nov. 8. Also shared a split-sack of Stafford…Tallied fumble recoveries in back to back games vs. Atlanta, Oct. 18, and at Green Bay, Nov. 1 to end the season with a career-high two recoveries for seven yards…Made six tackles (four solo) while also intercepting and sacking Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at Seattle, Oct. 11…Recorded seven tackles (four solo) and sacked Titans wide receiver Adam Humphries on a trick play vs. Tennessee, Sept. 27…Picked off Colts quarterback Philip Rivers at Indianapolis, Sept. 20. 2019 – Played in 16 regular season games with six starts, recording 62 tackles (36 solo), three sacks, one fumble recovery, seven special teams stops and one blocked punt. Started both playoff contests and recorded 13 tackles (nine solo)…Posted a season-best 12 tackles (seven solo) and also brought down Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky vs. Chicago, Dec. 29…Recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) and posted a career-high 2.0 sacks against Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the win vs. Oakland, Sept. 22…Blocked a punt by Falcons punter Matt Bosher in the first quarter vs. Atlanta, Sept. 8. Marked his first career blocked punt. 2018 – Played in 16 games with four starts for Minnesota and posted 42 tackles (31 solo), two sacks and a career-high eight special teams stops…Made nine tackles (eight solo) and sacked Stafford in the fourth quarter of the victory at Detroit, Dec. 23…Sacked Trubisky at Chicago, Nov. 18. 2017 – Played in all 16 regular season games and both playoff contests for Vikings as an undrafted rookie, tallying eight tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble on defense, as well as five special teams stops…Recorded first career forced fumble vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 1. Posted a special teams stop in NFC Divisional Playoff vs. New Orleans, 1/14/18.
COLLEGE – Started 24 of 38 career games at Cincinnati…Led the Bearcats in tackles during both his junior and senior seasons…Named first-team All-AAC and the Claude Rust Award winner as the team's MVP as a senior in 2016…Also finished this season with a career-best 126 tackles and 3.0 sacks…Earned second-team All-AAC honors following his junior campaign in 2015…Voted AAC Defensive Player of the Week for an 18-tackle performance against Miami (OH), Sept. 9…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports administration.
PERSONAL – Attended Lee M. Thurston (Redford, Mich.) HS, where he helped the team to four straight conference titles in football, earning All-State honors…Competed in track and basketball…Eric Andre Wilson was born September 26, 1994 in Cleveland, Ohio.
