Minnesota Vikings Cullen Loeffler Might Retain Lawyer For Kluwe Investigation

When former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe made accusations of homophobic comments against special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, Kluwe maintained that he had names of other players that heard Prifer’s alleged comments and now Kluwe is disclosing some of those names in the ongoing investigation.

August 10, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler (46) on the sideline against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler, named by Kluwe as a witness to alleged homophobic remarks, said Tuesday he might be retaining a lawyer in the matter.

“I’ll have to talk to a lawyer before I say anything to the media,” Loeffler said in a brief phone interview.

Kluwe’s lawyer, Clayton Halunen, told the Pioneer Press on Saturday that Kluwe in a Friday meeting with investigators named Loeffler and kicker Blair Walsh as having witnessed special teams coordinator Mike Priefer making homophobic remarks during the 2012 season— an accusation which Priefer has denied.

Kluwe made the Priefer allegations in a first-person article he wrote earlier this month for the website Deadspin.com, in which he also claimed he was released in May 2013 because of his outspoken views on same-sex marriage, but the Vikings maintain he was let go for football reasons only.

Halunen also said in the Saturday interview that Loeffler accompanied Kluwe shortly before the punter’s May 6, 2013 release to a meeting with Vikings director of player development Les Pico to complain about Priefer’s alleged remarks.

Loeffler wouldn’t comment on the alleged meeting or about being named as a witness.

“I guess not, especially since it’s now become such a legal issue,” Loeffler said. “I’ll have to probably talk to all the owners, powers to be (on the Vikings), since it’s now, I guess, going to trial or whatever.”

The Vikings launched an independent investigation after the Deadspin article came out Jan. 2.

Loeffler said he hasn’t retained a lawyer at this point. When asked if he definitely will be getting one, he said he will speak to team officials.

“Once I talk to … the Vikings and everyone, then I’ll probably be able to comment,” Loeffler said. “But I guess at this time I’m not really sure how everything is going to work, so I don’t really any comment at this time.”

Walsh has not returned messages left since Halunen made his comments. Halunen said Kluwe told investigators Friday he has text messages from Walsh that indicate Walsh knew about Priefer’s alleged remarks.

The investigation is expected to take another month or two to complete.