Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell annually asks the locker room to vote for that season’s WPMOY Club Winner; he emphasized the significance of peer selection.
“For C.J. to be nominated two years in a row by his teammates says a lot about the impact he has in our locker room,” O’Connell said. “Every time we introduce our starting fullback at U.S. Bank Stadium, you can feel how much our fans love and appreciate him. My hope is that people fully understand the type of human being and leader he is — someone who is committed to serving others and brings his teammates along with him. C.J. Ham is truly one of one.”
Those teammates say giving back means even more to “Hammer” than football … and we all know how much football means to him.
Ham’s passion for the game is pure, illustrated by his embracing of the sometimes-thankless fullback position.
Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill pointed to his teammate’s blue-collar work ethic as one of the reasons he easily garners so much respect throughout the locker room and beyond.
“I think a lot of people can appreciate that he doesn’t have a glamorous job, but he’s willing to do whatever job it is,” O’Neill said. “There aren’t many 32-year-olds that play all four special teams phases in the NFL. There aren’t many people who, in year 10 in the NFL, are willing to be on the punt protection team every single day of OTAs and training camp.
“That exemplifies his team-first attitude. Wherever he can possibly help, he’s going to,” O’Neill added. “He sets a great example for young guys who might be a starter, but they see a guy who finds different ways to help the team no matter what. I think people can relate to that and appreciate that … and it’s cool when people who do the dirty work are able to be recognized and appreciated.”