Who is the 'New Man on the Minnesota Vikings'?

In case you're wondering, yes, I did need something more exciting.

After spending several months with the earworm that is Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" embedded in my brain, like the rest of you, I've repeatedly questioned the one sports-based lyric (because that, folks, is how I operate).

Per the song, Lizzo is involved, in some way, with a "new man on the Minnesota Vikings". So, is a lyric just a lyric? Does it fit the pattern and scheme, and that's that? Is it just a helpful tribute to the favored team of the town where Lizzo's star rose to prominence? Is this a real man?

Though the odds were against me here, I did my best to dig.

Who is Lizzo's New Man on the Minnesota Vikings?

Alright. Here are the facts. According to Lizzo, there was a Minnesota Viking involved in her thought process when this song was first launched into the ether. Check the 19:43 mark of this extended interview.

Per Lizzo herself, after getting an abrasive text from a (clears throat) F***boy while writing "Truth Hurts," she tried to move on, claiming, "This Minnesota Viking was in my DMs. And we were chatting, we were texting, we went on a date."

OK. Now we've got one date on the books. Like Tenacious D once said, this song is more than just a tribute.

But are we any closer to nailing down an identity? Well...kind of.

Per a piece from "O: The Oprah Magazine," Lizzo revealed at a show in Detroit in May 2019 that the inspiration for this song was...from Detroit. If we take that and run with it (and we will!), there are a few players we can posit. Linebacker Eric Wilson, a third-year LB out of Cincinnati, was born in Detroit, and balled out at Lee M. Thurston HS in Redford, MI.

Anyone else? Well, second-year TE Tyler Conklin out of Central Michigan was born in Chesterfield Township and grew up in-state. We're going to lean Wilson on this, though; it just lines up too well.

Intrigue!

Of course, this isn't the first time this song found itself imbued with new football meaning; the Vikings-related lyrics were censored in Green Bay during 2019's first battle between the Pack and Vikes. Naturally.

New Man on the Minnesota Vikings Meaning

At the very least, Lizzo's hit song-worthy breakup was punctuated by some positive DM contact with a real-life Minnesota Viking. Though the relationship seems to have fizzled, this lyric referred to an actual conversation. If the man would prefer to remain anonymous, I won't make any 100% declarative statements about his identity.

Well, nah, I'll make one: I am willing to guarantee Lizzo was not referring to Kirk Cousins.