Vikings Team Captain Makes Feelings Clear After Being Traded

The Minnesota Vikings made many surprising moves last week — but nobody saw team captain and starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips‘ trade to the New York Jets coming.

Arriving as a free agent in 2022, Phillips started every single game of the Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era the past three years. He was an integral part of Brian Flores’ defense, especially the run defense that allowed the fifth-fewest yards on the ground last season.

Off the field, Phillips set the tone for the cultural reset in Minnesota as a leader in the locker room and the community.

The Vikings traded him to the Jets on August 21 for Day 3 draft capital and to offload cap space.

Phillips addressed the surprising career move on his Instagram days later.

Harrison Phillips Sends Clear Message After Vikings Traded Him to Jets

On Sunday, August 25, Phillips took to Instagram to share his gratitude for his time in Minnesota and excitement for what’s to come.

“Minnesota, you will always hold a special place in my heart. In our time here, so many of the biggest moments of our lives have happened. Not just growing as a player, but getting married, welcoming our son, and growing my foundation,” Phillips wrote, referring to his nonprofit foundation, Harrison’s Playmakers. “This state has been the backdrop for memories I’ll never forget.

@harrisonsplaymakers found new life and a whole new family of pups and volunteers in MN. Watching the impact grow in the Twin Cities is something I’ll always be proud of. A set of memories and friends to last a lifetime.”

As Phillips shared many photos from his time in Minnesota in the Instagram post below (click right on the arrows to scroll through), his attention is turned to his new home in New York.

“That said, football is about chapters, and I couldn’t be more fired up for the next one. Joining the New York Jets is an opportunity I’m beyond grateful for. I’m ready to give everything I’ve got, and I can’t wait to get to work, he added. “Thank you, Minnesota, especially my teammates and staff. Forever grateful. Now it’s time to #TakeFlight.”

Kevin O’Connell Addresses Vikings’ Decision to Trade Harrison Phillips

After the Vikings’ final preseason game on Friday, O’Connell opened his news conference, not to talk about the game, but the move that was likely lingering in the locker room for several days.

“Did want to start out just talking about Harrison Phillips for a quick second,” he said. “Obviously, a tough move to make considering just how impactful he’s been to the Minnesota Vikings and our organization, on and off the field. First free agent we signed when Kwesi and I got here, and he was the first one we signed for a reason. The type of man he is, the type of teammate, the type of leader.

“Moves like that are not made without a lot of thought. I got a chance to spend a lot of good time with Harrison, and I also had a chance to talk to (Aaron Glenn) and (Darren Mougey) in New York about the type of player they were getting. I know he’ll have the same impact there, in a new regime there. As they build their culture up, Harrison Phillips will be great for it.”

After signing Pro Bowl defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings felt comfortable moving on from Phillips, especially with the younger defensive line talent proving themselves in camp.

Parting ways with Phillips will open more opportunities to Levi-Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond and rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who have helped make the defensive line arguably the Vikings’ best position group.

“The thing that you have to understand, in the (DT) room, acquiring veteran presences like JA and Grave, they’ve really been immediate impact players on and off the field,” he said. “Guys that have sustained it and done it at a high level for a really long time. That doesn’t go into the hard decision like that, as far as the leadership goes, but you do know that we’ve got some ascending players on our roster, offensively and defensively, that are ready to assume that void. We’ve gotta make sure we’re on top of that because of his impact.”