Ex-Vikings player Blake Proehl earns 'American Idol' golden ticket

Vikings WR Blake Proehl surprise music success on TikTok

Not everyone can cut it in the pros playing football. But, after landing a dream job in the NFL, Vikings receiver Blake Proehl is finding success in another tough industry: the music business.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Blake Proehl, former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, made an impression by auditioning for Season 22 of "American Idol." Proehl performed a rendition of Brett Young’s "In Case You Didn’t Know" that gave judge Katy Perry goosebumps.

"If you will allow us to be your coaches," Perry said, "you're going to be top 10."

The other two judges, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, were also impressed by Blake.

Bryan called his performance "very believable, very innocent, and vulnerable."

Richie simply called Proehl a "natural."

RELATED: Football player by day, singer by night: Vikings WR Blake Proehl surprise success on TikTok

Proehl was accompanied by his grandmother, who he says encouraged him to pursue "American Idol." His grandmother was also featured in one of his first viral TikToks.

Proehl signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 NFL Draft. In a preseason practice with Denver, Proehl blew out his knee in four places. He didn't see it at the time, but this injury was about to give way to a major opportunity.

Vikings' Blake Proehl headlining Minneapolis concert

He’s a Vikings football player by day, and singer by night. Blake Proehl was picked up by the Vikings in spring of 2021 as an undrafted free agent. As fate would have it, the rookie blew out his knee in four places during a preseason practice with Denver in his first season. During his recovery, he discovered a hidden talent. Proehl turned to music. On Saturday, July 15, the Vikings wide receiver will headline his first concert at Fine Line in Minneapolis. The show comes just two weeks ahead of the start of Vikings Training Camp.

His musical talent was first noticed by fans on TikTok when he began posting covers as well as original songs.

"So I posted a few videos of me singing and like they were doing pretty good," he said. "Fast forward to like December and I posted a video to my grandma, and it got like 25 million views."

Proehl will compete again during Hollywood Week on "American Idol."