All of the work paid off for rookie quarterback Max Brosmer last week when he learned he had earned himself a spot on the active roster following a successful training camp with the Vikings.

He gave himself permission to take a step back and enjoy the moment. He hopped on a group FaceTime with his mom, dad, brother, girlfriend and his dogs to celebrate. After a few minutes, he hung up and got back to the grind.

“It was pretty surreal when I found out, and then it was like, ‘Snap out of it,’ ” Brosmer said. “You’ve got to earn it every single day.”

As excited as he was to make the team as an undrafted free agent, Brosmer had to remind himself this is not the ultimate goal. He wants to have staying power. The only way to accomplish that is to continue to work.

“Our team does such a good (of) job holding each other accountable,” he said. “There’s not a ton of time to be like, ‘I made it.’”

That shouldn’t be an issue for Brosmer; it’s not in his nature to be content. He has had to scratch and claw to get to where he is, committing to New Hampshire as a lightly recruited prospect, then transferring to Minnesota as a long shot to make to the next level.

As he’s navigated every step of his journey, Brosmer’s superpower has long been his ability think the game better than his peers. “That’s kind of always how I’ve been,’” he said. “It’s because, honestly, I haven’t been as physically gifted as some people in this profession.”

His mind helped Brosmer stand out after signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He quickly picked up the playbook in the spring and confidently applied it to his game in the summer.

Though he didn’t get a ton of reps in training camp, Brosmer made the most of his opportunity in the exhibition games, proving he belonged with impressive showings against the Houston Texans, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.

“It wasn’t always real clean around him,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “He found a way to move the team.”

Not once did Brosmer doubt he’d be able to do that.

“Whether I was going to come from New Hampshire or come from Minnesota to make it to the NFL, I’m confident in my ability to be able to play,” Brosmer said. “I’m grateful to have people that believe in me as much as I believe in myself.”

That includes everybody he came in contact with during his time with the Gophers, including head coach P.J. Fleck, who heaped praise last week when asked about everything Brosmer brought to the program.

“That kid leaves his imprint and his legacy everywhere he goes,” Fleck said. “It’s going to keep happening in his life.”

As he reflected on the process to get to this point, Brosmer tried to envision what it will be like next week when the Vikings take on the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Much like he did when he learned he made the team, Brosmer plans to give himself permission to take a step back and enjoy the moment.

“It’s such a cool feeling,” he said. “It’s a dream I’ve been dreaming since I was a kid.”

But there’s no doubt that after taking a few seconds to appreciate everything he’s accomplished so far, Brosmer will lock back in and move forward with the full understanding that there’s more work to be done.

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In the midst of the difficult conversations they had to have last week, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah or head coach Kevin O’Connell also got to tell number of players their dreams were coming true.

That wasn’t lost on either of them as they reflected on how many undrafted free agents that made the active roster.

“We talk about a culture built on competitiveness,” Adofo-Mensah said. “That’s always going to be our pitch. You can come here and have a chance. It’s a true meritocracy, and the Vikings will be that as long as we’re here.”

The group of undrafted free agents that made the Vikings this summer comprises former Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer, receiver Myles Price, tight end Ben Yurosek, offensive lineman Joe Huber, defensive lineman Elijah Williams, edge rusher Chaz Chambliss, and linebacker Austin Keys.

Here’s a scouting report on each player:

Max Brosmer

Position: Quarterback

College: Minnesota

Analysis: It was clear Brosmer belonged as soon as he stepped on the field for rookie minicamp. His mental capacity is his superpower. He absorbed the playbook in short order, and that momentum continued in training camp. Not only did Brosmer show command of the offense in his limited reps, he consistently made throws that turned heads. His performances in the exhibition games solidified his spot on the active roster. He’s a future backup quarterback for the Vikings, and perhaps a starter somewhere else later in his career.

Myles Price

Position: Receiver

College: Indiana

Analysis: Unless the Vikings make another move in the very near future, Price is going to be the starting punt returner. He separated himself from some of his peers in the exhibition games by proving how dynamic he can be with the ball in his hands. The key for Price will be ball security; he had his fair share of muffs in training camp. That can’t happen if Price wants to carve out a niche for himself long term.

Ben Yurosek

Position: Tight End

College: Georgia

Analysis: There’s a reason the Vikings guaranteed Yurosek more than $250,000 to sign with them: They believe he can be an impact player as a receiver and run blocker. He proved throughout training camp that he can do both at a high level. Though he won’t see a lot of snaps with star tight end T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver shouldering the load, Yurosek will get a chance to prove himself at some point.

Joe Huber

Position: Offensive lineman

College: Wisconsin

Analysis: No depth offensive lineman graded out better than Huber in the exhibition games. That explains how he found his way onto the active roster. It helps that Huber has some positional flexibility, proving himself capable of playing both guard positions — and dabbling at center — throughout camp. If the Vikings need somebody to play in a pinch, Huber could fill a a few different roles.

Elijah Williams

Position: Defensive lineman

College: Morgan State

Analysis: There’s an argument to be made that Williams has the best story all Vikings players. To say he was a long shot to make the active roster would be an understatement. After coming to the Vikings on a tryout in rookie minicamp, he impressed at every turn. Not only did he establish himself as a disruptor on defense, he showcased himself as a willing contributor on special teams. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a few splash plays at some point.

Chaz Chambliss

Position: Edge rusher

College: Georgia

Analysis: The Vikings want to improve their special teams, and Chambliss could be a big factor. He lined up all over the field in the exhibition games. That’s why he’s still here. In a perfect world for Chambliss, he will follow in the footsteps of safety Josh Metellus, who started as an ace on special teams before gradually earning more responsibility on defense.

Austin Keys

Position: Linebacker

College: Auburn

Analysis: Another reason the Vikings might improve on special teams. The motor that Keys possesses is undeniable. He goes 100 mph as soon as the ball is snapped. That type of reckless abandon is exactly what special teams coordinator Matt Daniels wants in his players.

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By Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline.org

Babies and children in the United States are nearly twice as likely to die before reaching adulthood compared with their peers in other wealthy countries, according to a new study.

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The health of U.S. children has deteriorated since the early 2000s across a range of measures, researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of California, Los Angeles found. They published their findings last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study compared infant and child deaths in the U.S. with the figures from 18 other high-income nations between 2007 to 2023.

U.S. infants, children and teens were about 1.8 times more likely to die before reaching adulthood compared with young people in peer countries, researchers discovered.

For babies, the two causes of death with the biggest gaps between the U.S. and the other countries were prematurity — being born too early— and sudden unexpected infant death.

For children and teens, the biggest gaps were in firearm-related incidents and car crashes.

Since 2020, gun violence has been the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens. Firearm death rates among U.S. kids have more than doubled since 2013.

Many of the deaths from prematurity, firearms and sudden unexplained infant death are preventable, three physicians argued in an op-ed published after the new report.

Those three causes of death are up to four times more likely among Black youth than their white counterparts.

The authors estimated the mortality gap between the U.S. and other countries claimed the lives of nearly 316,000 children and teens between 2007 and 2023.

The study also found that rates of chronic conditions including obesity, early puberty, trouble sleeping, limitations in activity, depressive symptoms and loneliness all increased in children during the study period.

Overall, Americans have a lower life expectancy and worse health outcomes than residents of other wealthy countries, even though the U.S. spends nearly twice as much on health care, relative to its gross domestic product.

To improve infant and child health, the authors of the op-ed proposed antipoverty measures such as child tax credits; social media restrictions; broader health insurance coverage; more investment in primary care; and more restrictive firearm laws.

Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org.

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Here is to Minnesota’s workers — native-born and immigrant, rural and urban, white-collar and blue.

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From factories to farms, from production lines to professional offices, Minnesota workers bring a combination of determination, education, and reliability. In our state, hard work is not just expected – it is a badge of honor.

I remember one snowy morning arriving early to shovel the entrance to our building. To my surprise, two co-workers were already there, shoveling quietly. No one asked them to. They were not paid extra. They just saw what needed to be done and did it. That same ethic plays out in every corner of the state, every day.

Business leaders with multi-state operations often say the same thing: “Our Minnesota location just runs better.” Fewer absences. More output and better attitude. That is not a fluke — it is how Minnesotans are wired.

The data confirms it. Minnesota ranks near the top nationally in labor force participation, educational attainment, and productivity. Almost three-fourths of Minnesota adults have pursued education beyond high school. Our workforce is both present and prepared.

Among the most inspiring contributors to this ethic are immigrants — many of whom bring their own traditions of grit, perseverance and diligence. In Minnesota, Latinos (the immigrant group with the most readily available data) have the highest labor force participation rate of any demographic group. Latinas, in particular, have seen real income and educational attainment grow more than twice as fast as their non-Hispanic peers.

But beyond statistics, it is character that counts. Minnesotans believe there is dignity in work — it is how people apply their talents, creativity, and discipline to build a better life and support their families. Work contributes to one’s worth, builds independence, and fosters growth. At the same time, it strengthens communities by creating prosperity, trust and shared purpose.

A society that values and promotes work not only reduces inequality — it unlocks human potential. In this way, work is both a path to personal fulfillment and a cornerstone of the common good.

Whether it is a lifelong Minnesotan showing up early or an immigrant building a new future, the ethic is the same: pride in work, personal responsibility and belief in opportunity.

We are fortunate to be home to such people.

So, here is to the Minnesotans who work hard and get it done. They deserve more than our thanks. They deserve state government that works as hard — and as competently — as they do.

Patrick Knight is a resident of Orono and CEO of a Twin Cities food processing company.