EAGAN, Minn. — Kyle Rudolph made it to the end zone more than any tight end in Vikings history.

Now, he’s made it to the wall of Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

The Vikings added an image of Rudolph — after he caught the first Vikings touchdown at U.S. Bank Stadium (from Teddy Bridgewater in the debut preseason game against the Chargers in 2016) — beside the door to the tight ends meeting room.

Rudolph became the first Vikings player to have worked inside TCO Performance Center honored on the wall outside a position meeting room.

The image joined Vikings Ring of Honor tight end Steve Jordan ahead of Rudolph returning to Minnesota with his wife Jordan and their four children, his parents Dan and Jamie, brother Casey and sister Kori to officially retire as a Viking.

Former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who teamed with Rudolph from 2011 when the tight end was drafted in the second round until retiring in 2016, said it was an “honor and privilege” to introduce Rudolph at the press conference Thursday morning.

“You could tell by the way he worked, how diligent he was, how much he cared about his teammates, the people in the building, that he was just different,” Greenway said. “And it was an honor for me, as a veteran that time, to help show him the ropes on community giveback, outreach. What it’s like to talk to the community and really interact and be a part of it. He did that and then some, times 10.

“There are few athletes who come through communities that make an impact like the way Kyle, Jordan and the family have made,” Greenway added. “And it’s truly special to watch him as a big-brother type figure for him, just to watch and be so proud of all the things he’s accomplished on the field, off the field, in the community. Truly amazing.”

Rudolph and the draft class of 2011 did not participate in a full offseason program because of a lockout that was resolved in time for training camp. Greenway, who had been drafted by Minnesota in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, bridged the gap. An eventual three-time Vikings Community Man of the Year (2014-16) mentoring another (2017-19).

“He was the first person to take me under his wing – not only on the football field but, as he mentioned, in the community – teaching me what it means to be a man, to represent this organization far more than on this football field,” Rudolph said. “So, Chad, I greatly appreciate everything you’ve done for me and for my career.

“I’m filled with a mixture of emotions as I stand up here today because I never really got this far in my dreams. I never really envisioned what the end would be like,” Rudolph continued. “And today, I officially get to retire as a Minnesota Viking. Closing the chapter on a journey that has meant everything to me. From the moment I put on the purple and gold, I knew I was a part of something special. The Minnesota Vikings are not just a team; they’re a family. Together, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve triumphed, and we’ve faced adversity.”

I’m really looking forward to being able to spend that moment together as a family.”