As he prepped for the 2014 NFL draft, a young Anthony Barr hopped on a plane for a top 30 visit with the Vikings.
A native of Southern California through and through, Barr hadn’t experienced a ton of cold weather. So he didn’t pack the proper attire for the occasion.
“I got off the plane and it’s snowing,” Barr said. “I was like, ‘Oh damn. This is place is different. Hopefully we don’t come here, because I’m not trying to deal with the snow.’”
Naturally, the Vikings selected Barr, a linebacker out of UCLA, in the first round a few weeks later.
“It ended up working out,” Barr said with a smile. “Now I actually love the snow.”
The memories came flooding back for Barr on Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center as he celebrated his retirement from the NFL.
He proudly reflected on the past decade as he stood at a podium with his fiancée Chelsea and his mother Lori seated in the audience. He also had former teammates Eric Kendricks, Andrew Sendejo and Audie Cole in attendance.
“It was important to me to retire a Viking,” Barr said. “It’s a franchise that changed my life, coming here in May 2014 as, really, a young boy trying to find his way playing a game he has loved his whole life.”
In his time with the Vikings, Barr recorded 496 tackles, 17 1/2 sacks and 44 quarterback hits across 102 games, all while serving as a conduit for former head coach Mike Zimmer regardless of circumstance
“He entrusted me with communicating to the guys,” Barr said. “We had a good line of communication, and that made our relationship really strong.”
Asked about the most memorable moment of his career, Barr immediately pointed to January 2016, reminiscing about how the Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers on the road to clinch the NFC North.
As important as Barr was for the Vikings on the field, he might have ben even more impactful off the field. He found a home in Minnesota and remains an active member of the community despite the fact that it’s no longer the place he resides.
“I love to inspire the next generation,” Barr said. “It’s something I don’t take lightly.”
Need more proof about how much this place means to him? Just listen to Barr recount his brief reunion from a few years ago when he picked the Vikings over the Philadelphia Eagles after getting a phone call from his agent at the last minute.
“I was getting fitted for a helmet and he called me and I was like, ‘Oh yeah. Let’s go back to Minnesota,’ ” Barr said. “I was about to sign the papers and I went up there and I was like, ‘I’m actually about to head out.’”
As crazy as that story might sound in hindsight, Barr knew at his core that it was the right decision for him.
“It made sense at the time, and it still does,” Barr said. “I’m a Viking, and I feel that in my heart.”
Related Articles
Five cornerbacks that makes sense for the Vikings to add
Mizutani: Vikings reacquiring Adam Thielen evokes memories of Randy Moss
After growing up a Vikings fan, Carson Wentz fulfills his prophecy
Adam Thielen is back home with the Vikings and he couldn’t be happier
The Loop: Nipsey Russell’s 2025 NFL Preview
Leave a Reply