The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Minnesota linebacker Cody Lindenberg plans on taking full advantage. Lindenberg recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Lindenberg also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his abilities at off-ball linebacker, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Lindenberg better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Cody Lindenberg: I was sitting in the locker room before the team ran out for its bowl game. It was Jan. 3 against Virginia Tech. I unfortunately wasn’t playing in that game. I was sitting there helping the guys get ready.
My phone buzzed and it was Jim Nagy! My heart started racing immediately (laughs). I ran off into the back of the locker room for some quiet. Nagy asked me if I’d like to put my Minnesota helmet and gear on one more time in Mobile. I said absolutely, yes, thank you for the opportunity.
It was an absolute blessing and a dream come true to get that phone call from Jim Nagy. It was extraordinary. I was pumped and thrilled to get the invite. I kept it to myself until after the game. After the fellas took care of business against Virginia Tech, I was able to share the news with my coaches and teammates.
It was an awesome, awesome experience to get that call from Jim Nagy.
JM: We’re so happy for you. That sounds like a truly special moment. What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Cody Lindenberg: It’s another opportunity for me to display my skill set in front of NFL evaluators against the best competition in the country. Not only to prove to the scouts and GMs but to prove to myself I’m exactly who I say I am, who I know I am, how I know I can play.
I’m going to carry myself like a pro. It’s about everything within that nature. I want to showcase how I play the game of football, how I dissect film and plays as they happen. I know I do everything in football at a high level.
If I just stick to proving it to myself, I’ll prove it to the GMs and scouts as well. It’s about doing what I know I can do. Everything else will fall in place.
JM: Speaking of, how would Cody Lindenberg write his own scouting report? Self-scout yourself for us. Are you a downhill thumper, or an athletic off-ball linebacker in space?
Cody Lindenberg: I’m a very intelligent player who can dissect plays. I watch a ton of film. Obviously, there can always be improvements and I’m looking forward to getting better at the next level. I’m excited about this process, to get constructive feedback from teams on what I can improve on.
Watching film, my football IQ, breaking down tape, those are some of my strengths. I dissect things as they happen on the field. Toughness and hustle are other assets of mine. I never take a play off. I swarm to the football. I cover sideline to sideline. I get ball-carriers on the ground.
I can play in space, I can play inside the box. I think I can do it all. I can play off the edge as well and rush the passer. I think I’m very versatile. I do a lot of great things on the football field. I’m not a one-dimensional player.
Intelligence gets me in the right spot to make plays. From there, the abilities I’ve been blessed with help me get the job done once I get into those spots.
JM: I love how in-depth that was. This has been awesome. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Cody Lindenberg?
Cody Lindenberg: It goes back to what I said earlier. I’m going to put my best foot forward. At the end of the day, there’s no comparing myself to other people. There’s no saying, “Oh, I wish I would have done this differently.”
If I just simply do the best I possibly can with each rep I’m given, I’m going to maximize it, because I understand not everybody is given this opportunity at the Senior Bowl. I’m going to be competing with the best prospects in the country.
Every prospect in attendance wants to display what they can do, but we’re also there to sharpen our skills. With this much talent around us, we’re all going to get better. I’m excited about the opportunity to go out there and do my absolute best.
