Blue Mountain alum Gavin Bartholomew has made the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster.
On Sunday, the team announced its final cuts and those moves revealed that the Vikings decided to keep four tight ends: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek, and Bartholomew.
Bartholomew sat for entire 2025 season due to a back injury after he was drafted in the sixth round last season. With that injury and the Vikings presumably having found a third tight end last season, it was considered by some who follow Minnesota closely that Bartholomew surviving cuts this season was a longshot.
In three preseason games, Bartholomew was a bright spot in an otherwise sputtering Vikings offense. He hauled in 6 catches for 41 yards, including 5 receptions in Friday’s preseason finale against the Broncos.
By making the Vikings roster, Bartholomew will become the first Schuylkill County native to suit up for an NFL team this century. Pottsville Area alum John Flannery last played for the then-St. Louis Rams in 1999 after being drafted in the second round by the then-Houston Oilers in 1991.
North Schuylkill grad and Shenandoah native Ron Mattes played in the NFL from 1985 through 1992 with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, and Indianapolis Colts. He’s currently the offensive line coach at North Carolina A&T University.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...