Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons.
Barr, 33, was drafted by the Vikings with the ninth overall pick out of UCLA in 2014.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl on four occasions between 2015 and 2018 and also played one season with the Dallas Cowboys.
In his career, Barr played in 116 games over 10 seasons. He recorded 554 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, five interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries.
Barr initially started out as an offensive player and played wide receiver, running back and tight end in his first two years with the UCLA Bruins.
After struggling to make an impact, he chose to switch to the other side of the ball before his junior season and started playing linebacker.
Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has announced his retirement from the NFL
Barr, a three-time Pro Bowler, was drafted by the Vikings with the ninth overall pick in 2014
Barr came close to signing a multi-year contract with the New York Jets before the 2019 season. However, he U-turned on the move and instead signed a five-year, $67.5million deal with the Vikings.
But in August 2022, Barr left the Vikings and signed with the Cowboys as a free agent after reworking his contract in Minnesota.
He played 14 games that season after suffering a hamstring strain in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears.
Barr then re-signed with Minnesota in November 2023 and was given a spot on their practice roster. He was promoted to the active roster and played in four games, which would prove to be his last in the NFL.
‘After an amazing ten-year career, Anthony Barr will officially retire from the NFL in just a few weeks,’ a post on the Instagram account of Barr’s Raise The Barr Fund said.
‘From the start, he used his platform not just to play, but to build Raise The Barr, turning his success on the field into real impact for families like his.
‘While his football days are coming to a close, Anthony will remain focused on the mission, because the families counting on us need support now more than ever.’
