The Minnesota Vikings have lost one of their most beloved players.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Anthony Barr has retired.
“[Four-time] Pro Bowl OLB Anthony Barr is retiring after 10 NFL seasons. The former top-10 pick of the Vikings started 108 games during his outstanding career,” Schultz wrote on X.
4x Pro Bowl OLB Anthony Barr is retiring after 10 NFL seasons.
The former top-10 pick of the #Vikings started 108 games during his outstanding career. pic.twitter.com/42N4geR22w
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 5, 2025
As the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, he was the first pick of head coach Mike Zimmer, and given his positional versatility, was a tailor-made fit for his system at the time.
Barr proved to be a solid addition right away.
He logged 70 total tackles, four sacks and three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) in 12 games as a rookie.
He followed Zimmer to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, one season after the Vikings replaced the coach with Kevin O’Connell.
Barr returned to the Vikings in 2023, playing in four games before failing to make a single appearance last season.
He struggled with injuries, which might have something to do with his decision.
In 116 NFL games, he logged 554 combined tackles, eight forced fumbles and five interceptions.
Despite his talent and impact, the Vikings often drew criticism for drafting him over Aaron Donald, who was taken at No. 13 overall by the Los Angeles Rams.
There’s no such thing as predicting the future, and not even the most optimistic scout thought Donald would go on to become the best defensive player of his generation, so perhaps the Vikings and Barr deserve some slack.
