Andrew Sendejo, who immediately becomes one of the Browns' eldest veterans, signed with Cleveland on Friday.
Here are five things to know about the new Browns safety.
1. Sendejo is entering his second decade in the NFL, making him one of the most experienced players on Cleveland's entire roster. At 32, Sendejo has been playing since the 2010 season, when he signed midway through the year with the Cowboys as a practice squad player. Over the next year, Sendejo was cut twice, first by the Cowboys and then the Jets, who signed him as a practice squad player but never let him see the field. Sendejo signed with the Vikings in late November of the 2011 season and ultimately stuck, working his way up from a special teams player and backup to a full-time starter by the 2013 season. Over the past decade, Sendejo has appeared in 110 games with 61 starts.
2. The best stretch of Sendejo's career was from 2015-17. He started every game in which he was active and racked up 74, 69 and 80 tackles, respectively, over the three seasons. He also compiled a combined five interceptions. Minnesota won the NFC North twice during that period and advanced to the NFC Championship in 2017. Minnesota ranked first in the NFL in 2017 in total defense (275.9 yards allowed per game).
Check out photos of safety Andrew Sendejo
Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo gets set against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Andrew Sendejo (34) during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings strong safety Andrew Sendejo warms up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Vikings strong safety Andrew Sendejo celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Minneapolis. The Cleveland Browns have added another veteran safety to their secondary, agreeing to terms with Andrew Sendejo on a one-year, $2.25 million contract. The 32-year-old Sendejo played for Minnesota and Philadelphia last season. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Sendejo (42) and safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) tackle Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) in a week 2 NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sep.15, 2019 in Atlanta. (Michael Zarrilli/AP Images for Panini, via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, left, talks with Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Andrew Sendejo after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 38-20. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Andrew Sendejo (42) drops into coverage against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Andrew Sendejo catches a pass at the NFL football team's practice facility in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Andrew Sendejo (34) as cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) closes in during the second half of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Andrew Sendejo reacts after the ball is snapped during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. Philadelphia won 34-27. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Philadelphia Eagles' Andrew Sendejo in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Andrew Sendejo (42) runs against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 24-20. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Andrew Sendejo (34) rests during an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Vikings won the game, 29-24. (Greg Trott via AP)
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 file photo,Minnesota Vikings defensive back Andrew Sendejo walks on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Vikings have released right guard Mike Remmers and declined an option on safety Andrew Sendejo's contract, clearing more than $10 million in space under their salary cap. The moves were made Monday, March 11, 2019 when NFL teams could begin negotiating deals with players eligible for unrestricted free agency on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
El safety Andrew Sendejo de los Vikings de Minnesota Vikings intercepta un pase frente a Will Fuller de los Texans de Houston, el domingo 9 de octubre de 2016. (AP Foto/Andy Clayton-King)
Texas-El Paso's Fred Rouse (1) reaches for a pass as Rice's Andrew Sendejo (30) defends during the fourth quarter of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, in Houston. The pass was incomplete and Rice beat Texas-El Paso, 56-48. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis (85) leaps over Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) and strong safety Andrew Sendejo (34) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo (34) in coverage during a week 16 NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 in Green Bay, Wis. Minnesota won 16-0. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kyle Williams (19) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Andrew Sendejo (34) during an NFL preseason football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Texas running back Jamaal Charles, left, attempts to move around Rice defensive back Andrew Sendejo, right, during first-quarter action in their college football game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Andrew Sendejo (34) defends during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 in Chicago. The Vikings won the game, 20-17. (Greg Trott via AP)
Tulane quarterback Anthony Scelfo, left, is pushed out-of-bounds by Rice defender Andrew Sendejo in the second half in a football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007 in Houston. Tulane won 45-31. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Minnesota Vikings strong safety Andrew Sendejo (34) during an NFL regular season football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017 in Charlotte. The Panthers won, 31-24. (Ric Tapia via AP)
3. In 2018, Sendejo started the first five games before suffering a season-ending groin injury. He signed with the Eagles for 2019 and appeared in nine games with one start before he was waived in early November. He was claimed by the Vikings one day later and provided an immediate impact. He appeared in six games with two starts and intercepted two passes, including one in his first game back. Sendejo was a regular player in the team's two playoff games on defense and special teams, too.
4. Before he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Sendejo spent a season in the now defunct United Football League. He played and started in eight games for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. He led the team in tackles (48) and interceptions (2). Quarterbacked by former NFL star Daunte Culpepper and coached by Dennis Green, the Mountain Lions went 4-4 during Sendejo's season.
5. Sendejo grew up in Spring Branch, Texas, a suburb north of San Antonio. He starred as both a football player and soccer player at Smithson Valley High School. He enrolled at Rice University and emerged as an immediate starter his freshman season. Sendejo was a tackle machine throughout his collegiate career, racking up a career-best 18 in a game against Marshall as a sophomore and compiling two other 17-tackle efforts. His senior season came to an unfortunate end, though, when he suffered a high ankle injury that required surgery. For his college career, Sendejo had 318 tackles, two sacks, seven forced fumbles and nine interceptions.
