Anthony Barr on Retirement: It’s Important To Me To Retire As A Viking.. The Franchise Means So Much

Anthony Barr on Retirement: It’s Important To Me To Retire As A Viking.. The Franchise Means So Much

I’m grateful to be here obviously grateful to you know share the space with Anthony his family and all the family and friends. Um just start want to start off a little story uh a little story time uh about our you know career together. Obviously we went to college at UCLA together. Grew up 18 years old, roommates in college. But this story is from um it’s from a London game. We played the Cleveland Browns. And if you know Anthony, you play with Anthony, you know he throws up before every game. Sorry to be nasty, but he throws up before every game and he lays he lays this towel down. He has this whole routine where he lays these towels down. They’re all it’s all organized and and everyone’s just doing their thing pregame and he’s just, you know, throwing up like whether it’s right before the game or in the locker room. And this game, the Browns game, it’s a little bit different schedule, whatever. I’m coming out. I’m coming off the field somehow and I I’m sweaty. So, I grab a towel off the ground and I just wipe my face from top to bottom. Just completely get covered with orange peel. You know, I I I smell like a citrusy, you know? It was like this citrusy kind of kind of flavor and uh realized that I had just used his towel from from him his pregame you know routine which you know that’s that’s just a little story to show you how close we are and throughout this journey and break the ice a little bit but no no seriously um you know Anthony Bar is a hell is a is a heck of a teammate you know he’s a captain on this team um you know eighth overall pick by Minnesota in 2014 pro bowler you know 55 in the field number one in our hearts Anthony Bar [Applause] That’s a true story. It’s disgusting, but it’s true. My bad. Um, all right. Well, first of all, I would like to apologize for having you all come here on Labor Day. Uh, my bad. Uh, I’m retiring on y’all’s off day and now I’m I’m off forever. So, thank you guys for joining me here. Um, it’s uh, obviously really good to be back here. Um, it’s important to me to retire as a Viking because the community means so much. The franchise means so much. Uh, franchise that changed my life. Um, coming here in May 2014 as a young young boy really trying to find his way. Um, playing the game he loves his whole life and got a chance to showcase his talents here. Um, so I want to know obviously thank you to the organization. Um, I will start by thanking the Will family, uh, specifically Ziggy and Mark. um in my mind the best owners in sports. Um and I I say that because they while they feel the competitive team on the field year after year, um they do that with awareness in class. I don’t think any organization uh does it quite like the Wolf family does. Um they are progressive. They’re active in the community. Um their efforts are local, national, and global. Um and they’ve created a culture of winning here. Um a culture that people want to come from all all over. Free agents loved coming here. Um I know you guys see the end of year reviews. The Vikings are always number one. just because of how well this organization is ran. So, big shout out to the to the Will family. Um, I also want to thank u Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman. Um, the two people that uh were played a big influence in my coming to Minnesota, drafting here, being drafted here as a ninth pick in 2014. Uh, they entrusted me uh with a lot. I had a lot of responsibility at the time. I remember actually in April of that year before I got drafted, I was coming here for a top 30 visit and this is when we were in Eden Prairie. Um, and I was coming from California. I was in my, you know, my t-shirt, my my shorts, and I got off the plane and it’s snowing. I’m like, “Oh, damn.” Like, this place is this place is different. I was like, “Okay, hopefully we don’t come here cuz I’m not trying to be dealing with the snow uh in April.” And then 6 weeks later, they called and I was like, “Damn.” Uh, but it ended up working out and now I actually love the snow more than I do the heat. So, that’s kind of weird how that uh changed being a Cali boy, but now I’m like full Minnesota. It’s like, “Where’s the snow? I could bring it on.” So, um I do really appreciate the, you know, Rick and Mike for, um, obviously giving me the opportunity to play play here. Um, I do want to take a minute to thank the folks in the building that made my experience so special. Um, from the training staff to the scouting department, strength coaches to the equipment room, PR staff, um, the kitchen, the front office, everyone in between. Um, these are the people that kind of make this vehicle go. You guys are the the heartbeat of this building. Um, so thank you guys for for making my experience and the experience of so many um so amazing. Um, there are a few people I’d like to recognize specifically. Um, we’ll start with Rob Rosinski, Lester Bagley, Les Pico, Caitlin Zerki, Matt Matty D, Eric Sugarman, Rob Roach, Dave Jansy, Dennis Ryan, Terrell Barnes, Adam Chad Lindine, Dave Chorus, Paul Martin, Chuck Peterson, Scott Stwell, Logan Johnson, Andrew Miller, Jeff Anderson, all my folks at VEN, Kaen Ryder, Hillary Pat, Mike and Adam Zimmer, Rick Spielman, Kevin O’Connell, Quesie, John Ganon, Nick Rollis, Mark Ouyama, Coach Oie, uh Derek Keys, Brett Taber, Quinn Adams, uh John Extramm, Sam Newton, Lindseay Young, John Graves, Mary Redmond, George Payton, Tom West. I can go on and on. Um but these are just a few names that uh just really made my experience here what it was. And you guys are u just first class individuals. And thank you for welcoming welcoming me and my family here with open arms and making this experience so amazing. Um, and that’s a long list of names. I apologize, but that’s uh those are the ones that, you know, kind of sat at the forefront of my mind. Um, I would also like to thank my mom. Um, you know, my biggest supporter, my biggest fan, um, since I was in Pop Warner, where there she is right there. Um, she’s always been, you know, my the loudest one in the stands. Even in Pop Warner, I remember her cheering my name and I was like, “Please just don’t take it down a little bit, you know.” But, um, she was always very proud. Um, my grandparents obviously as well. Um, drive me to practice, popcorn. I remember that song. Uh, I don’t remember the song, but there’s a song that, uh, was playing. Every time you drive me up that hill, I was like, it’s time for practice and, uh, the sacrifices you made to allow me to be here today. Um, it kind of goes without being said, but, uh, I love you very much, and thank you for all your all your support through all these years. Um, and I would also like to thank my fiance, um, Chelsea Mothers, beautiful woman standing right here. Um, you know, you didn’t ask for this lifestyle. You kind of came in towards the end of my career. Uh, your wag era was was great. I thank you. You kind of thrived. You thrived in the WAG era. I’m I’m sorry it was shortlived, but um, you were a great wag. And, um, I just thank you for jumping in and supporting me right away. You know, you didn’t hesitate. you didn’t really know what this, you know, came with everything, but you were with me right when we were in Dallas and when we came back here. And um you fit in with everybody. Everybody loves you. You’re a girl’s girl. You’re a you’re my girl. And uh I love you very much. Um and I would like to thank some of my teammates that are here today. Uh EK, Audi, Dejo, uh Harry, wherever he is. Um Chad, you know, you guys are my boys, man. You guys made this experience um what it was. I think on the field, off the field, it didn’t kind of really matter. You know, even last night when we’re just kind of catching up, it’s just like picking up back from where we left off however many years ago. Um, I couldn’t have done this without you guys. I love you guys. Thanks for uh supporting me. Thanks for being here today. Um, and kind of going through this roller coaster of life and football with me. So, thank you guys. Um, so yeah, that that’s kind of concludes most of most of everything. You know, I know I don’t live here full-time. I think my work in the community will continue uh raise the bar. We’re very active still in this community. Um trying to help single parent families and their households to achieve economic mobility is our end goal. Um but the Minnesota community does mean a lot and just because I’m not living here doesn’t mean I will not still be active in the community. Uh that means so much to me. Um and in closing, yeah, football has given me more than I could have ever dreamed of. Uh um means obviously for my family, but the relationships are really kind of what stand out. Uh the people are what you remember the most. um you remember the games, you remember the plays, the practices on all that, but it’s really the people that make uh this whole thing so special. So, uh thank you for everybody that I have mentioned or I didn’t mention. Um if I didn’t mention you, I didn’t forget you. I just maybe I did forget you, but um yeah, it’s been it’s been a been a pleasure and a joy and an honor just to be represent the Vikings and um the NFL and um yeah, so thank you guys very much. Skull Take a few questions for Anthony. Anthony, when did the vomiting start? Yeah, that wasn’t until like I got to the league. I felt like I don’t know. Maybe my first game I was so nervous I just threw up and then I threw up every game from there on out. Yeah, it kind of just stuck with me every game. Even if I nothing came out, I was still driving. Yeah, I know that’s a little more graphic than you guys probably care to know, but um yeah, it was just it was a routine and it’s weird cuz like people would start like kind of gathering around, you know, like they knew it was time, you know, and Harry would get real close and I’m like, bro, you’re like in the splash zone, like get some distance. Um but if you know him, he’s weirdly strange and odd and disgusting. So, kind of makes sense. Anthony, when when you were just reflecting on, you know, making this decision, what were you most proud of throughout your career? Yeah, I think u what I I’m most proud of is kind of just the way I carried myself and went about um being a a pro football player. Um I think I held myself with class at a um always respected the game, respected my teammates, um opposition, my coaches. I came in the building. I never missed a meeting. Um I was never late for a meeting. I came in and just did things what I felt was the right way. And um I’m proud to leave the game and I feel a better place than I I you know, I got you know what I’m trying to say. So yeah, was my answer. What were some of the responsibilities Zimmerick gave you right away as a young player? Yeah, I think um he entrusted me with communicating to the team. Um some things that he maybe didn’t feel comfortable saying or there was maybe a disconnect from whatever that situation is, but he entrusted me with communicating to the guys, whether it’s in the green dot or just a message that he may have had. Um I felt like we had a good line of communication and I kind of understood what he was trying to say. Even when he couldn’t say what he was trying to say, I kind of was able to figure out what he was trying to get at get at. So, I think that just made our relationship really strong. When did Minnesota really start to feel like home for you? Yeah. I’m not sure. I think um honestly I started hanging out with with Audi and and Harry and uh it’s funny. Audi was like, “Man, like I remember your draft night and they called your name and I was like, well, I’m out of a gig now, you know? And I was like, “Damn, my bad, bro.” And he’s like, “I kind of didn’t like you at first.” And then we started hanging out. He’s like, “You’re you’re not too bad, you know.” So, uh, maybe that might have been one of the, you know, more memorable moments, but, um, it was it was just funny kind of how everything comes full circle. Why didn’t you come back in 2023 after being in Dallas for that one year? Yeah, I think I had some options, um, to go other places. cuz I was actually in Philadelphia about to sign there when Minnesota called and it was kind of like a no-brainer to me. It’s just a place I I like to be and it’s comfortable. It’s familiar. Um and I really enjoy the way things are ran here. The structure of the organization. Um everything is it just made sense at the time and it still does. It just like I’m I’m a Viking. I just feel that in my heart and at my in my core. So um there was really no once they called I literally left from Philly. I was getting fitted for a helmet and my agent called me and I was like, “Oh yeah, let’s let’s go to Minnesota.” So, just like took it off and hopped on a plane and it was kind of messed up, but it worked out. Yeah. Were you on a try out at the time in Philly or were you like No, I was like about to sign. Like I was going up to the GM’s Yeah. to sign the papers and I went up there and I was like, “Plot twist. I’m I’m actually about to head out. So, thanks for thanks for everything the five minutes I’ve been here.” But, uh, yeah, I’m I’m good. Do you have a story about Eric that can rival what he just told about you? No. I mean, the thing about Eric is like he would shower before every game and Edmond Robinson used to be on our team and he was a linebacker and Eric literally wouldn’t go on the field until Edmond told him that his curls were popping. So, I swear he’d be like Ed. He’d be like looking at Edmond like and sometimes he’d forget and he’d be like, “Well,” he’s like, “Oh, my bad. Your curls, they’re popping. They’re popping.” and then was like, “Okay.” And then he was ready to go. So, he just needed that that confirmation, that affirmation that he was looking good. And they’re popping right now. I mean, look at him. Switch lanes, crow cream, and go buy some. What do you think just made your guys connection so unique and special with you and Eric? Uh, I think we have similar upbringings, you know? I think um similar morals and and beliefs and just uh work ethic um and going through like college is not a you know, I think it is now, not a glamorous position to be in when you’re trying to grind your way through it. And yeah, we got it out the mud. Like we would we would work out together. We go to class together. Um we really challenged each other, I think, on the field to be to be better. Always trying to like one up each other and workouts and all that. And the competition made us really close and we end up living together for a couple years in college and then even Minnesota, we lived in the same building for years. Um now we live down the street. It’s kind of weird. Yeah. Uh but it’s cool. Yeah. Shopping too. Like I found a place. I’m like Oh yeah. Yeah. That’s true. Yeah. Not his not his wife, but me. Uh, smart smart decision. What game stood out to you? Like the games you played in here? Um, yeah. The one that I always think of is the um the game up in Green Bay in 2015 where we clinched the NFC North at kind of the last second Rogers Hail Mary where the clock expired, but they obviously let them get it off cuz it’s kind of how they operate up there. Um, and we ended up winning. Then that ended up being our first NFC championship. And then going the next week, I think we played Damn, I think that’s when we lost to Seattle, probably. So that’s bittersweet, I guess, now that you bring that up. But, um, but that’s a very memorable game. It was fun. It was cold. It was against our division rivals up at third place. Knock them off to to win the NFC North. Um, that was a very one that stands out. Feel like it went by fast. Yeah, there are times, you know, it goes by fast sometimes. Sometimes it feels like it takes forever, but definitely sitting here now looking back, it’s like we did all that. It’s pretty pretty cool, you know? So, it was it definitely flew by, but there also times when you’re in it where it feels like, man, this is a grind, you know? So, kind of both, yes or no. when you think about all the factors that have been part of your personal growth and development and then how you relay that through the raise the bar like what what really stands out makes what you do there um based on the experience you Yeah. Well, just supporting people and um giving giving others opportunity that they might not otherwise have I think is really important and I was blessed to have a very strong support system and people that were allowed me to get to this point and without so many people in my family, friends, um I don’t think I would be here. So I me and my mom and our organization we try to bridge that gap for families and give them a shot cuz everyone deserves you know a chance at least. So obviously we can’t affect everybody. There’s only so many people we can help but you know if you could help one why why wouldn’t you? Anthony I talked to um a Jeremiah program family this week and like she was the mom was talking about how thankful she is that her sons like had a role model to look up to in you. Um, obviously besides on the field, what piece does that mean to you? Just that you know there are kids out there who can look up to your your character as well as your career. Yeah, I mean it’s pretty cool. It’s not something I think you think about sometimes when you’re in it. Um, but as you get further and further removed from that, I think you realize how important it is to to be that cuz I think we all at once in our life had a role model, you know, whether it’s our mom or parents or someone on the outside that we looked up to. And uh if I could be that for someone, I think that’s pretty cool. I Yeah. I mean, I would love to inspire the next generation. And um that’s uh something I don’t take lightly for sure. When you were here in in 23, what did you learn about Flores, Kevin O’Connell, kind of the the state of the franchise and the leadership now? Yeah, I really I really like where where things are um from obviously more outside perspective now, but when I was here in 23, the uh the leadership I think was exactly where it should be. You know, I think um kind of in with with the times that we’re in now, I think they fit perfectly. Um, I think Kevin Okonnell is a great leader, very good communicator, obviously a very smart guy. Um, and very relatable, someone that you could go have lunch with and, you know, have an easy conversation with, but also demanding and, um, knows his exes and knows and, um, knows what he wants from his guys. And with Flores is just it’s it’s it was kind of crazy. I didn’t really there was no playbook, you know, when I got here. It was just like, yeah, we just kind of made up this defense. I was like, all right, well, how do I learn it? He’s like, I don’t know. just go out there and figure it out, you know. I was like, “All right, sweet.” Um, so that was different, but it was uh it was really cool and I think the guys have obviously he has the guys now in place to to go out and play his type of his type of ball and I expect the defense to be solid. Do you still watch Vikings games as part of your side of your team? For sure. Yeah. Um, that first year I wasn’t playing, it was kind of like bittersweet cuz I was kind of like, man, I wish I was out there. But now I’m to the point where I’m just so at peace with it and it’s all love and I I really enjoy watching games now. It’s not stressful anymore. Um well sometimes it is, but most of the times actually with the Vikings every game is stressful seemingly, but it’s uh now I can really be a fan and put my purple hat on and be a homer and um really support the guys. So what do you want to accomplish in the next phase? Are are you and Eric going to start a podcast or something? Uh, well, I’m actually going to get married to my fiance, not Eric, which is may may be a surprise to some of you guys, but um yeah, so we’ll start there and then uh you know, hopefully build a family and kind of go from there. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind doing podcasts. That’d be cool, but um yeah, maybe down the road. Awesome. Thank you, guys. Thank you, sir.

Minnesota Vikings Legend Anthony Barr addressed the media during his retirement press conference, alongside former teammate and friend, Eric Kendricks.

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