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Former Top-10 NFL Draft Pick Announces His Retirement

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 3:12 PM ET

After a year removed from football, one of the top picks in the 2014 NFL Draft is officially calling it a career.

On Tuesday, former Pro Bowl linebacker and Vikings top-10 pick Anthony Barr announced that he intends to retire (via his Raise The Barr foundation):

"After an amazing ten-year career, Anthony Barr will officially retire from the NFL in just a few weeks," the fund shared to its Instagram page. "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," the post continued, "Anthony will remain focused on the mission, because the families counting on us need support now more than ever."

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Barr was a four-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, helping lead the franchise to one of its two NFC Championship appearances since 2000 before a brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys.

Prior to his arrival in the National Football League, Barr starred at UCLA where he racked up 23.5 sacks and All-American honors as a two-year starter under head coach Jim Mora. He then parlayed that into the ninth overall selection in the '14 Draft — ahead of players like Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald and Zack Martin.

It didn't take long for Barr's impact to be felt as a 4-3 outside linebacker in Mike Zimmer's defense where he was named to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015-2018.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after sacking Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

After his lone year in Dallas in 2022, Barr returned to the Vikings the following season but only appeared in a handful of games recording a single tackle and a fumble recovery.

The South Bend, IN native leaves the NFL at 33 with a highly respectable career and a place in the hearts of many a Vikings fan who watched the team throughout the 2010s.

Best of luck to Anthony in his post-football life and continued success for the former Bruin!

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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