NFL’s Harrison Phillips on Faith, Football, and Mentoring Youth

He’s the anchor of an NFL defense! Minnesota Vikings’ Harrison Phillips has lineman size and a wide reach to fill defensive space. Attributes that are only diminished by an even bigger heart; prioritizing great space of availability to bring practical presence and support for children and youth faced with circumstantial challenges.

Question: “Harrison, what’s the must-have for you to succeed as an interior defensive lineman?” 

Harrison Phillips: “Health! Health is up there for sure. I feel like my best games are when I went into the game feeling really good. And my poorest games are the games I went in a little banged up. So health is a big component. And then for the way my style of play, our hands is super important. Strike first and you get full extension really helps elevate your game in using your hands to help us defeat blocks.”  

Question:   “How much of it is skill and size; how much of it is technique?” 

Harrison Phillips:  “I don’t think size matters as much anymore. The game changes so much that even in my short time in the NFL, like the NBA is kind of drastically changing with 3-point shooting.  NFL offenses are also taking that same approach with passing. Statistically from a mathematical equation they should pass the ball every play. So that does really change the physical demand. I think that skill and technique definitely are the separators. Playing blocks and reading the concepts is something I’ve thrived on. I always try to elevate my game in the pass rush as the game’s now evolving, I have to evolve and I’m stepping into that.”   

Question:  “As a defensive leader in the Vikings huddle, locker room – what do you measure when a unifying piece is needed?” 

Harrison Phillips:  “That’s a great question!  There’s positional power and there’s personal power. Your starting quarterback has positional power, commanding a huddle and leading a team. When you’re in that position, you’re automatically a leader. I think the personal power is something that any person can build up with a lot of people. Staying on the field after practice or getting an extra lift-in. This is someone doing it the right way and I’m gonna follow them too. When I was named captain here last year, I think it was more based on the personal power that I built up those three seasons that enough of my teammates saw who Harrison Phillips was as a person.”   

Question:  “A Stanford Grad. A Torn ACL, You know a hard journey. What did you gain during that setback?” 

Harrison Phillips:  “Tearing my ACL was a real turning point. That was one of the biggest adversities that I had to face at that time in my life. And when my identify was so rooted in being a football player and the game was taken away from me just so abruptly, its just a really tough pill to swallow at 19 years old. There was a great community at Stanford of Christian athletes that just kept pouring into my cup when my cup was like draining itself; and not playing and all the success the team was having with me really made me feel small. My fire started burning even further for the Lord and getting to know Jesus to help me pull out of those dark times.”  

Question: “Harrison’s Playmakers, where and how is that reaching into communities?”

Harrison Phillips:  “Omaha, Nebraska, where I’m from. Buffalo, where I used to play. And here in the twin cities, we’re trying to reach as many individuals with development differences and special needs but that’s even grown a lot further. We like to say out hearts are unbiased, so someone going though a hard time – pediatric cancer, hard of hearing, visually impaired - and provide ‘em opportunities that they might not have. Sometimes people who don’t know this population think they can’t do things. And that’s not the case! Often times my Playmakers are blessed in ways that I am not and they have abilities far superior than ones that I have.”   

Question: “You love how you call them your playmakers. What have those playmakers taught you?”

Harrison Phillips:  “(Sigh) Man … if I think about things that my playmakers thrive at, that I wish my other friends and teammates would have a better grasp on – never giving up. I think about confidence. It doesn’t matter if I just won a game, I just lose a game, if I have a frown on my face or a smile on my face, I’m loved the same way every time I see them. They’re so non-judgmental. They have a passion and love for celebrating other people’s success even more so than their own. When I leave a playmaker camp or event – my cup is often overflowing because of those things.”  

Question:  “What do you think is the most common denominator of what they’re responding to?” 

Harrison Phillips: “I think inclusion is a word that sometimes is a throw-around. But these individuals want to feel included. They don’t want pity. How can you pity someone you admire?! The more that we can talk about inclusion and actually walk that out in our life, not like post it or reposting a thing, but like actually inviting those people to go out with you and your buddies. You know you don’t realize that just one day in your life could be the highlight of someone’s year and theirs. So like inclusion is probably a good word.”

Question: “What of God’s affirmation toward you has been branded forever?”

Harrison Phillips:  “(Sigh) Well its one that I still struggle to live out every day and it’s in James, it’s ‘consider it pure joy when you face trials of any kind, because the testing of your faith produces endurance, let the endurance run it’s full course so you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. I still don’t really want to welcome adversity with open arms. But I know that it sharpens me and makes me a better, more humble person because of it. Because you keep your faith, Jesus does see a better reflection of Himself in you.”  

Question:  “We see you as a number 97 on game days and in practices. How do you see yourself within the reflection of God.” 

Harrison Phillips:  “Umm. I mean I definitely want to leave a legacy off the field through my community efforts. That’s a big deal for me. And I’m never embarrassed in my faith and I definitely let people know that I’m a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ and to grow as many disciples as I can that can experience God’s grace and love. It would be really cool if I was able to catch up with someone in heaven one day and they say they think I’m here because you were the touch point.”

Question:  “With all due respect, you’re a big guy man. How do you challenge yourself to continue to grow in this magnificent transformation of Christ-following?”

Harrison Phillips:  “I’m choosing to tackle people for a living. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh, praise the Lord. And in my job it’s so hard to do that because one week you’re starting, one week you’re not. One week you’re pro bowl, one week you’re cut. When I pray that my will and God’s wills align. I often hope that His will goes to mine more often but sometimes it’s my will drifting towards His. I have fought the good fight. I’ve finished the race. I’ve kept my faith. Just understanding the Lord giveth. The Lord takes it away. Praise Be The Lord!”