The offseason has just begun for 30 teams. Some players take time off from workouts, while others are getting creative in their training. Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips returned to his roots, joining Minnesota Gophers star wrestler Gable Steveson for practice last week.
Phillips was a three-time Class A state wrestling champion at Millard West High in Omaha, NE. There, he wrestled at 215 pounds. He’s now listed at 307 pounds on the Vikings’ website.
The Gophers shared highlights of Phillips’ day at practice, finishing the video with a clip of him and Steveson wrestling on the mat. Steveson got the better end of Phillips, finishing with a pin.
It was a remarkable moment that showed Phillips’ involvement with the community. No one would fault him if he went home or trained in a warmer climate and didn’t return to Minnesota until OTAs begin in the spring. That he was in town, at a college he didn’t even attend, to brush up on his skills of a sport he used to play shows how invested Phillips is with Minnesota.
Just a pair of multi-time high school state champs making each other better.
Thanks for stopping by practice @horribleharry99! #GopherTough
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— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) February 1, 2025