It's been almost 20 years since NSYNC put out its Christmas album, but for one NFL player enduring the winter chill in Minnesota, it's still an ideal holiday soundtrack.
Still goes hard af pic.twitter.com/XmC6h8CJEI
— Andrew Sendejo (@Asendejo) December 22, 2016
Sendejo, of Mexican heritage, isn't afraid to go against the grain or the odds, in his musical choices or his chosen career. In high school, he played both soccer and football, settling on football only in college, where he was a standout at Rice University. Not many players from that school get NFL notice, and it didn't help Sendejo that he was injured through a good part of his senior year.
In the 2010 NFL draft, Sendejo wasn't selected. He persevered, playing in the now-defunct United Football League with the Sacramento Lions and becoming one of the league's top tacklers.
The Dallas Cowboys took notice and signed Sendejo to their practice squad, where he impressed enough to move up to the active roster. He was waived in 2011, and after a brief stint with the New York Jets, he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in November 2011.
It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Sendejo as a Viking, and he's had to prove himself again and again, fighting for playing time.
In 2013, Sendejo recorded a career-high 84 combined tackles. And earlier this year, he agreed to a new contract with the Vikings. This season he has 66 combined tackles, even while battling through some injury issues.
The Vikings (7-7) are in third place in the NFC North.