Nick Vigil Bio
Nick Vigil, born August 20, 1993, is an American professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and weighing around 239 lb (108 kg), he plays the position with a long, athletic frame built for both run support and pass coverage. Vigil first gained national attention while playing college football for the Utah State Aggies, where his tackling production drew All-Mountain West Conference recognition. Since entering the league in 2016, he has built a steady, journeyman career across multiple franchises, contributing on defense and special teams units.
Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, Vigil has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers, the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings on two occasions, the New York Jets, and most recently the Dallas Cowboys. Through the 2024 NFL season, he has accumulated 467 combined tackles, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 17 pass deflections, and 1 defensive touchdown across his professional career. His path from a small Utah town to a long NFL tenure reflects persistence, position versatility, and consistent availability on special teams.
Early Life and Background
Nick Vigil was born and raised in Plain City, Utah, a small community in Weber County in the northern part of the state. He grew up in a family with a clear athletic identity, as his older brother Zach Vigil also became an NFL linebacker, a fact that shaped his early exposure to the sport. The brothers often trained and competed together, giving Nick an early understanding of the linebacker position and the discipline required to play it at a high level.
Vigil attended Fremont High School in Plain City, where he lettered in both football and basketball. As a multi-sport athlete, he developed the speed, footwork, and physical toughness that would later define his professional profile. His performances on the Fremont football field earned him a college commitment from nearby Utah State University, allowing him to continue his development without leaving his home region. Family support and familiar surroundings helped him transition smoothly into the college ranks.
Path to American Football
After completing his high school career at Fremont, Vigil enrolled at Utah State in 2012 and redshirted his first year, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college level. He quickly earned a role in the Aggies’ defense and began producing as a young linebacker, lining up alongside future professionals and learning the nuances of the position. Utah State’s defensive scheme gave him opportunities to play in space, rush the passer, and chase plays sideline to sideline, skills that broadened his draft profile.
By his sophomore and junior seasons, Vigil had developed into one of the top tacklers in the Mountain West Conference. His production and leadership drew the attention of NFL scouts evaluating mid-round linebacker prospects. Following the 2015 college season, Vigil declared for the 2016 NFL draft, opting to skip his senior year in Logan. He then trained for the pre-draft process, sharpening his technique and conditioning ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Nick Vigil Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Vigil in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2016 NFL draft, making him the 11th linebacker taken that year. Shortly after the draft, Cincinnati signed him to a four-year, $3.11 million contract that included a signing bonus of $695,629. As a rookie, Vigil worked primarily as a backup linebacker, learning under Marvin Lewis’s defensive staff and contributing on special teams.
By his second season, Vigil had won the starting strongside linebacker job and made an immediate impact on the Bengals’ defense. He recorded his first career interception against the Baltimore Ravens and his first career sack against the Cleveland Browns, showing range and finishing ability. Across his four seasons in Cincinnati, he developed into a reliable defender, starting 27 games and recording multiple 100-tackle campaigns before becoming a free agent in 2020.
Cincinnati Bengals Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Vigil’s 2017 season was his professional breakthrough, as he started 11 games and finished with 79 combined tackles, 5 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 1 sack. Although an ankle injury cut his season short and sent him to injured reserve in late December, his play before the injury confirmed his status as a starting-caliber NFL linebacker. Teammates and coaches praised his preparation and his ability to diagnose plays quickly from the strongside position.
In 2018 and 2019, Vigil continued to start regularly for the Bengals, delivering high-volume tackling performances and contributing in coverage. He recorded double-digit tackles on several occasions and added his first career interception of the 2019 season against the Cleveland Browns. By the end of his Cincinnati tenure, Vigil had established himself as a dependable every-down linebacker whose special-teams value and defensive reliability made him attractive to teams in free agency.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2020)
On March 30, 2020, Vigil signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, beginning the journeyman phase of his NFL career. He debuted for the Chargers in Week 1 against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, and immediately made an impact by recovering a fumble forced on Joe Mixon in a 16–13 win. The performance set a tone for his one season in Los Angeles, where he earned rotational defensive snaps and a substantial special-teams role.
One of Vigil’s most memorable moments as a Charger came in Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football. He led the team with nine tackles and recorded his first sack as a Charger, taking down quarterback Derek Carr during a 30–27 overtime victory. Although his tenure in Los Angeles lasted only a single season, the year reinforced his reputation as a versatile defender capable of producing in a new defensive system.
Minnesota Vikings First Stint (2021)
Following his release from the Chargers, Vigil signed a one-year contract worth up to $2.25 million with the Minnesota Vikings on April 6, 2021. The Vikings deployed him as a rotational linebacker and core special-teams player, taking advantage of his tackling ability and field awareness. He played in 16 games with 12 starts, finishing fourth on the team with 85 tackles, a strong statistical return on his one-year deal.
Vigil’s Minnesota tenure reestablished his value as an everyday NFL defender, even as the team continued to rebuild its linebacker corps. He showed consistency against the run and proved durable enough to handle a full workload. His performance in Minnesota positioned him for another opportunity in free agency heading into 2022.
Arizona Cardinals and Later Stints (2022–2023)
On March 22, 2022, Vigil signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, hoping to carve out a role in their defensive rotation. He appeared in several early-season contests before a placement on injured reserve on October 8 limited the rest of his year in Arizona. Despite the abbreviated campaign, his experience helped provide leadership in the Cardinals’ linebacker room.
In August 2023, Vigil signed with the New York Jets but was released before the regular season began. He quickly resurfaced with the Minnesota Vikings, joining their practice squad on August 31 before being elevated to the active roster on November 11, 2023. After a brief release and re-signing later that December, Vigil once again showed his value as a veteran presence who could step in when injuries struck. Across this stretch, he continued to log meaningful defensive and special-teams snaps.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024–Present)
On August 6, 2024, Vigil signed with the Dallas Cowboys, joining a defense looking for experienced linebacker depth. He was released during initial roster cuts on August 27 but returned to the team the next day, a sequence that reflected his importance on special teams. On October 5, 2024, he was promoted to the active roster, signaling the Cowboys’ growing trust in his readiness and role within the defensive rotation.
Throughout the 2024 season, Vigil contributed tackles, coverage snaps, and reliable special-teams play for Dallas. His veteran presence helped stabilize a linebacker group navigating injuries and rotation changes. As the Cowboys continued their push through the second half of the schedule, Vigil’s experience and preparation gave the defense a steady contributor on the field.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vigil’s playing style is built on football intelligence, sideline-to-sideline range, and reliable open-field tackling. He diagnoses run plays quickly, takes sound angles to the football, and shows the lateral agility to handle pass-coverage duties against running backs and tight ends. On special teams, his willingness to play through contact and his consistent lane discipline make him a trusted coverage player.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Vigil’s most memorable career moments are his first career interception against Joe Flacco in 2017, his first career sack of DeShone Kizer later that same season, and his game-sealing fumble recovery on his former Cincinnati teammate Joe Mixon in his Chargers debut. He has also produced multiple 100-tackle seasons and reached more than 460 combined tackles across his career, a milestone that underscores his durability and longevity at the linebacker position.
Nick Vigil Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career, Nick Vigil has been recognized more for his durability, tackling production, and defensive reliability than for headline-grabbing victory totals. As a reserve and rotational defender on multiple teams, his individual win totals are not tracked as centrally as those of quarterbacks or pass rushers. Instead, his value has consistently shown up in team defensive performance, on-field communication, and special-teams contributions across stops in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Arizona, New York, and Dallas.
NFL Career Highlights
Vigil’s NFL highlights include earning a starting strongside linebacker role with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017, recording his first career interception and sack that same year, and posting multiple 100-tackle seasons during his time in Cincinnati. He also led the Los Angeles Chargers in tackles during a Thursday Night Football win over the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 and finished fourth on the Minnesota Vikings with 85 tackles in 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NFL, Vigil earned two First-team All-Mountain West Conference selections at Utah State in 2014 and 2015, capping his college career with a 144-tackle junior season that ranked sixth nationally. He has also recorded game-winning or momentum-shifting plays such as a fumble recovery against the Bengals in his Chargers debut and multiple double-digit tackle performances during his Vikings tenure.
Nick Vigil Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Nick Vigil comes from an athletic family rooted in Plain City, Utah. His older brother, Zach Vigil, also played linebacker in the NFL after a college career at Utah State, giving the brothers a shared football journey from Fremont High School through the professional ranks. Growing up in a competitive household shaped Nick’s work ethic and reinforced his understanding of the linebacker position from an early age.
Personal Life
Vigil has remained largely private about his personal life, focusing public attention on his football career and family ties. He maintains ties to his Utah roots, where he and his brother Zach both developed as multi-sport athletes. Beyond his immediate family and his football community, details about his personal relationships are not widely publicized.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Nick Vigil is expected to continue his role with the Dallas Cowboys as a veteran linebacker and core special-teams contributor. His re-signing and promotion during the 2024 season suggested that the Cowboys view him as a steady rotational piece who can step into larger defensive responsibilities when needed. The 2025 campaign will likely emphasize his tackling consistency and his ability to mentor younger linebackers within the Dallas defensive scheme.
Vigil’s established track record of availability and production across multiple teams positions him as a reliable option for the Cowboys’ defensive rotations. With several AFC and NFC rivals adjusting their offensive schemes, his experience in coverage and run defense could become a quiet but meaningful asset. Continued strong play on special teams would also help cement his role on the active roster throughout the season.
As the season unfolds, Vigil’s combination of veteran poise and on-field production will be a key storyline to watch for Dallas. Whether as a rotational starter or a special-teams captain, his journey from Plain City to a long NFL career continues to reflect his perseverance and professionalism. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see how his 2025 contributions build on a career that already spans nearly a decade in the league.