The Minnesota Vikings shocked the NFL world on draft night by selecting Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. But the surprises didn't stop there. Just a day later, Banks revealed a personal detail that has fans far more rattled than his draft position: his pet collection is straight out of a nightmare.
During a press conference on Friday, Banks casually dropped the news that he shares his home with not one, not two, but multiple reptiles and arachnids. Alongside a Cane Corso mastiff, he owns two pythons, a chameleon, and—wait for it—a pet tarantula. The Athletic's Alec Lewis broke the news on X: “Caleb Banks said he has two pythons, a chameleon and a cane corso. They will be all moving to Minnesota. There are possibly more to come as well. A tarantula was mentioned.”
NFL fans immediately recoiled. The reactions ranged from pure disgust to outright mockery. NFL insider Ian Rapoport summed it up with a simple, “Oh man. Nope.” Social media erupted with comments like, “lower the already low grade for the pick,” and “Nevermind. Banks was a horrible pick. F-.” One fan wrote, “You know someone is a bust when they own multiple pythons, let alone ONE. Snakes of any kind are my biggest fear, and I’m talking about the ones you see in real life.” Another declared, “Straight up bust. Glad we didn’t get him.”
But not everyone was horrified. A surprising number of fans actually embraced the weirdness, seeing it as a sign of the kind of edge they want in a defensive lineman. “Exactly the energy I want from a defensive tackle,” one user declared. Another said, “This man might be weird enough to be great.” A third fan wrote, “Alright bro my new Defensive Tackle is literally a Psycho we might have a stud 😭 WHAT KIND OF PERSON WILLINGLY OWNS PYTHONS AND TARANTULAS?” And perhaps the most telling comment: “This is the type of dude you want playing defensive tackle for you. A complete psychopath.”
The Vikings, who are still mourning the loss of legends like Jeff Siemon and Joey Browner, now have a rookie who might just bring a whole new level of intensity—and a few cold-blooded roommates—to the locker room. Banks' unusual pet ownership has sparked a debate about what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Some see his reptile and arachnid companions as a red flag, while others view them as a sign of a fearless competitor.
For now, all eyes will be on Banks as he adjusts to life in Minnesota. One thing is certain: his new teammates might want to think twice before visiting his place. As one fan put it, “Hard pass from us on visiting his home any time soon.” Let's just hope Banks has somewhere warm to keep his cold-blooded pets during those brutal Minnesota winters.
Meanwhile, other rookies are making headlines for different reasons. Riley Leonard's shocking pay cut and the financial realities of NFL dreams show that life in the league comes with its own set of surprises. But none quite as creepy as Banks' menagerie.
