How God Ordained Vikings Lineman Harrison Phillips’ NFL Career
By Movieguide® Contributor
Minnesota Vikings lineman Harrison Phillips discussed his faith and explained the moment he knew God had the NFL in his future.
Phillips was recovering from a torn ACL, and on a flight to California, as Harrison returned to Stanford for his junior year of college, he flipped his Bible open to the devotional of the day.
A guide at the back of his Bible led him to James 1:2-4, which reads, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that that testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Phillips was astounded as this was a verse he had been reflecting on all summer in light of his injury.
“God was telling me, ‘I put you through this flame. I put you through this [and] your faith is stronger because of it. You kept the faith the whole way. I see a reflection of Myself in you.’ And at that moment, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this football thing is what it’s gonna be… He’s shown me too many times, and this is where He’s calling me right now,’” Phillips told The Conversation podcast.
Sure enough, Phillips was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2018 and played with them for four seasons before being transferred to the Vikings in 2022. In the two seasons since his move to Minnesota, he has put up terrific numbers, posting 92 tackles and three sacks last year, per Sports Spectrum.
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More impressive, however, has been his commitment to using his platform to share his faith and positively impact his community. At the end of his career season, he praised the Lord, thanking Him for his success.
“Lord you guided the ship everyday through each storm. The trials work for us, they help us gain your image in us!” Phillips wrote in an Instagram post. “Help us remember Your light always takes over darkness and God please allow the L’s to stand for lessons not losses.”
“You are the maker of it all,” he continued. “Thank you for the health and production, thank you for this team which has become a family. Thank you for all the things you’ve done and left undone. Thank you for the hope for our future success and the work we get to do to get there. Thank you for your Son and the Holy Spirit that live in us! Amen.”
Phillips was also the Vikings’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which recognizes players making a profound positive impact on their communities. Through the Harrison’s Playmakers foundation, Phillips cares for over 1,400 kids with “developmental differences” across Buffalo, Minneapolis and Omaha.
It is amazing to see such a successful football player stay rooted in Christ and use his platform for the Lord’s glory rather than his own.
Movieguide® previously reported on another Vikings player who gives glory to God:
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Camryn Bynum secured the game-winning interception on Prime Time against the San Francisco 49ers.
After the win, Bynum gave all the praise and glory to God.
“First of all, all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he declared. “It feels amazing to be able to be out here with my team and come up big in a big-time game.”
The football player shared photos and videos of the game and his ministry work in the Philippines on Instagram. He wrote, “My life changed when I realized that it’s bigger than me.”
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