In middle school, Cody Lindenberg was ready for a new challenge. Lindenberg, a multi-sport athlete, heard about a Junior Olympic track competition.
Deep down, the Anoka, Minn., native knew he could medal in the 100- and 200-meter events. Lindenberg, a young football, basketball and baseball player, enthusiastically tackled his own challenge.
“One day, he was like, ‘Hey, I’d like to try to go run a qualifier for the Junior Olympics, just for fun,’” Cody Lindenberg’s father, Ron, recalled. “So he left baseball practice early and went to a qualifier.”
Lindenberg qualified for the event and earned an invite to the Junior Olympics at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. When competition day arrived, Cody found himself surrounded by seasoned track stars. Everyone knew what they were doing, except him.
“He had never run out of blocks at that point. So he’s out there on his own trying to figure out how to utilize blocks,” Ron said. “He leaned over to the kid next to him and said, ‘I’m not really sure how this works.’ Not long after, the kid is over there helping him set the blocks and then off he went.”
Without preparing or training, Lindenberg made the podium in the 100- and 200-meter events. All of the Junior Olympic track athletes and coaches were perplexed.
“He got to show up to baseball practice later that night with some medals hanging off of him from the Junior Olympics,” Ron said. “He just took the medals, hung them on the shelf in his bedroom and moved right on.”
Lindenberg’s passion for running extended beyond the Junior Olympics. Cody also participated in the Hershey’s Track and Field competition. The nationwide event, sponsored by the chocolate company, identifies the nation’s best young track athletes. Lindenberg won the state meet and earned an expense-free trip to Pennsylvania for the National Finals. However, because of his summer baseball schedule, Lindenberg couldn’t accept the invitation.
(Cody Lindenberg on the podium following his performance at the Junior Olympics)
The Kid with a Dirty Jersey
Baseball was another passion for Lindenberg. He played nearly every position on the field, including catcher, pitcher, shortstop, second base and outfield. Cody’s youth baseball coach, Don Gawreluk, quickly took note of his versatility and competitive mindset.
“When you’re a catcher, you have to kind of be that kid who always has a dirty uniform. And the first time I met Cody, his uniform was already a little bit dirty. I’m like, all right, that’s one of those checklist items,” Gawreluk said. “He kind of had this look in his eye like, I’m going to get a hit, I’m going to steal a base, I’m going to make this play. He just realized how mentally tough he was as a youngster.”
When baseball games were on the line, Lindenberg wanted to be at the plate. Gawreluk recalled all of the games where Cody made an impact play.
“He wanted to be the guy in the pressure situation, even as a young 10 or 11-year-old kid,” Gawreluk said. “If we had a Mr. Clutch Award, he would have been the guy who would have been voted that year after year. He just liked that situation.”
“Watch Out for 45”
For a long time, nobody could tell which sport Lindenberg liked most. He enjoyed each of them, but eventually gravitated toward the speed and physicality of football.
“We used to call him ‘Bam, Bam’ when he was little because he kind of had this crazy muscular build to him,” Ron said. “He was a very versatile kid, but they loved him on defense because he had that speed. So we’d slide him over to defensive end and the play would go in the opposite direction of him because they knew he was over there.”
As a youth player, opposing coaches kept a close eye on number 45. Lindenberg was one of the players that local community teams schemed around.
“You would hear – ‘Watch out for 45. You’ve gotta watch out for 45,’” Ron said. “He didn’t care where the play went or how far out of the play he was, he just loved the opportunity to run the play down.”
Ron vividly remembers one youth football game vs. Mounds View. That day, Cody made plays all over the field.
“He had four touchdowns before we hit halftime. I think he scored a total of seven touchdowns that day. Whether that be pass plays, running plays, kickoff returns,” Ron said. “I think that just was a moment where I thought, holy cow.”
Lindenberg’s former Anoka-Ramsey youth football coach, Brian Fleisner, immediately took note of Cody’s curiosity. From a young age, Lindenberg wanted to learn more about football.
“He was such a student of the game that he could be played anywhere. He’d want to know, how do I do this? How do I do that? And I think that really helped him evolve into a football player,” Fleisner said. “He knew all the chess pieces on the field. I think from that lens, his willingness to do whatever it took really helped him progress.”
Lindenberg played almost every position on offense, defense and special teams. No matter what the team needed, Fleisner knew Cody would be ready.
“Cody had a whatever it takes mentality from a young age. He would do whatever was asked of him, whatever he could do to help the team,” Lindenberg said. “He was always a ‘yes coach’ person, even on days when he was frustrated or asking to play a different position just to neutralize the threat on the other side of the ball.”
Once Lindenberg reached high school, he continued playing multiple positions on each side of the ball. The Anoka High School athlete didn’t care where he played, as long as he was on the field.
“He was sort of Mr. Jack Knife in high school. He was OK with that, even once he was offered [for college] and knew what he was going to do,” Ron said. “He was willing to play quarterback, running back, kick returner, safety. He really didn’t even play much linebacker his senior year in high school.”
The Turning Point
Lindenberg didn’t attend any football camps because his Legion baseball schedule conflicted with them. However, as Cody started gravitating toward football, he attended a Nike Opening Regional event in St. Louis.
“Nobody even knew Cody existed really other than the fact he was a three-sport athlete until he went down to that Nike event,” Ron said.
Cody arrived at the event and started going through athletic testing. After Lindenberg finished the short shuttle, event organizers looked confused. They asked Cody to run the drill again using a different laser. Shortly after he finished, everyone huddled up again.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh, geez, is he false starting?’” Ron said.
Lindenberg’s father was wrong. Shortly after Cody repeated the drill, an event organizer waved him over.
“He just said, ‘Are you Ron Lindenberg?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, is there something wrong? Did he false start?’ He said, ‘No, no.’ He said, ‘To be honest with you, we thought something was wrong with the lasers. We couldn’t believe that he was able to put up that kind of time,’” Ron recalled.
A Full-Circle Moment
After making a strong impression at the camp, the Lindenberg family began driving back to the Twin Cities. However, not far into the trip, Cody’s phone lit up.
“I was in the back and he handed his phone back to me and it was Baylor contacting him,” Ron said. “They were wondering if there was any way possible we could take a left-hand turn instead of a right to go back to Minnesota.”
After thinking about it, Cody made the right-hand turn toward Minneapolis. Days later, instead of leaving for Texas, Lindenberg visited the University of Minnesota.
“The Minnesota staff showed us around and Cody was bouncing off the clouds. The GM came in and said he had a phone call for Cody,” Ron recalled. “Coach Fleck said, ‘Hey, Cody, I’m sorry, I’m out of town and I can’t be there, but I want you and your family to come back. Will you please come back on Thursday when I get into town?’”
Not long after arriving for the next meeting, head coach P.J. Fleck, former defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and the Gophers extended an offer to Lindenberg.
“Coach Fleck left the room for a second, and right at that point, when I looked at Cody, I could tell exactly what he was thinking,” Ron said. “As soon as that offer came in, he asked me, my wife, my daughter and his trainer, ‘Would you guys be OK with me playing for the Gophers?’ And I was like, ‘Are you joking?’”
Moments later, Cody committed to Minnesota. It was a full circle moment for Lindenberg, who grew up watching the Gophers. To this day, the entire family treasures a photo of 10-year-old Cody with Goldy Gopher.
“When Cody was growing up, we went down to TCF Bank Stadium at the time for a youth practice. Afterwards, he said, ‘Someday, I want to play here,’” Cody’s mother, Kristi, said. “I’m just so happy for him to have the opportunity to play for the state of Minnesota. It was the only thing he ever wanted to do and he gets to do it.”
A Family Affair
From day one, the entire family has enjoyed following Cody’s journey with the hometown Gophers. Aunts, uncles, cousins and community members from near and far join them for game days at Huntington Bank Stadium. A large piece of Cody’s upbringing is always present, no matter what.
“It’s been absolutely amazing watching him play for the Gophers. He has so much support and it kind of shows through his character,” Cody’s sister, Karlee Lindenberg, said. “Even with how great he is at football, he’s always still been so humble. It’s been great with our family always being there and everyone always making the extra effort to go to his games. It means so much to him.”
Cody’s mother, Kristi, also loves watching him play for the hometown team. Although her nerves increase on game day, they calm down for a second when Cody gets off the bus.
“It is one of my favorite things. Just to see that before the game and wish all of them well,” Kristi said. “It’s special to see your son walking in with the team, all dressed in suits. You see the band, the cheerleaders, Goldy and the coaches walking them in. It’s like, here we go.”
Once the game kicks off, Kristi watches her son transform into a tough, tenacious Big Ten linebacker. Yet, even when the intensity level is high, she still sees Cody’s character shine through.
“I always remember in Colorado, he was chasing down the quarterback. He kind of chased him out of bounds. At Colorado, it’s a short sideline. The quarterback slipped right up and over the the wall and did the Scorpion,” Kristi said. “Cody was helping him up and trying to get him out of the stands. That’s the kind of guy he is. He’ll knock you down because that’s his job, but he’ll care about you at the end.”
The Pride of Anoka
Lindenberg, a fifth-year linebacker for the Gophers, missed time with an injury last year. He is now healthy and ready to play a big role for Minnesota. As the season approaches, the entire Anoka community can’t wait to support him.
Don Gawreluk, Lindenberg’s youth baseball coach, teaches elementary school students in the Anoka-Ramsey School District. Gawreluk proudly displays his autographed Cody Lindenberg jersey as an example for future Anoka students.
“Last year at my elementary school, I talked about Cody and the Gophers leading up to Saturday. I have my signed Cody jersey that I’ve shown the kids,” Gawreluk said. “It’s just great having that connection. I’m super proud of that connection and the things that Cody continues to do.”
Lindenberg remains connected with every coach who influenced him, including his former youth football coach Brian Fleisner. Last year, Fleisner was surprised when a package arrived at his doorstep. He opened it up to find an autographed 8×10 photo and jersey. Cody’s kind gesture touched the former coach.
“He will never outgrow his town as far as forgetting where he came from,” Fleisner said. “It says on there, ‘Coach Fly, thank you for your constant support and all you’ve done for me over the years.’”
Fleisner, who nows serves as an assistant principal at Freeport Middle School in Illinois, uses Lindenberg as an example for his current students.
“I can’t wait for kids to come in and ask who that is,” Fleisner said. “It’s such a teachable moment about being a good role model, doing the right thing, dealing with peer pressure, but always wanting to be the best version of yourself.”
Lindenberg remains connected with the Anoka community in many ways, including as an ambassador for the Dylan Witschen Foundation. The foundation carries on the legacy of Dylan Witschen, an Anoka football player who passed away from brain cancer in 2010. Each year, the Anoka football program selects one player who embodies Dylan’s character to wear the number seven jersey in his honor. As a senior, Cody was selected to represent Dylan’s legacy. Lindenberg’s sister said it was an honor that touched him deeply.
“At the seven-minute mark of Anoka football games, they would cheer Dylan Witschen seven times. So we always saw that growing up,” Karlee Lindenberg said. “When he was chosen to wear his number and saw the guys ahead of him at the time chosen for it, it was really important to him and he really got invested in it.”
Lindenberg is creating additional awareness through a new community initiative. For every tackle Cody makes this season, Minneapolis real estate agent Isaac Johnson of Next Move Twin Cities will donate $25 to the Dylan Witschen Foundation up to a maximum donation of $2,500.
Fleisner and other mentors aren’t surprised to hear about Cody’s continued involvement in the Anoka community. It is something they saw from him at a young age.
“I think his platform can only grow from here. It’s just going to grow and explode as far as what he can give back to the youth,” Fleisner said. “The way he carries himself day in and day out, he’s a role model that kids will look up to for a very long time.”
Despite all of Cody’s success on the football field, his parents are proud to see him using his platform for good. Even as his star grows brighter, they know he will always be the same old humble, kind-hearted kid from Anoka.
“I’m proud that he’s such a leader. And even when he has his own adversity, he’s always been there for his teammates, his family and others,” Kristi said. “Everybody around here is so proud. I’m sitting on a bench outside in Anoka right now. The entire community means a lot to all of us.”
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