Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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His connection with Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer runs deep.
Zimmer had taken the helm in Minnesota nearly four months prior, making Barr his first-ever draft pick as an NFL head coach. The two have spent the entirety of their Vikings careers together thus far, thanks to Barr's decision last March to re-sign and stay in Purple.
Barr said he "doesn't take it lightly" that Zimmer felt strongly about selecting him six years ago.
"He trusted me. We've had our ups and downs, and we've had our successes and our failures, but one thing that's always remained is the respect, and we've always worked hard," Barr said. "Regardless of what the circumstance was or if we're winning or losing, we always remain kind of the same person – doing our routine and going about our business the right way.
"[And] I think we've had more ups than downs," he added.
After Barr celebrated with friends and family at his draft party, he didn't wait long to connect with Bruins teammate and fellow linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Little did Barr know, his message to Kendricks would be more foreshadowing than encouragement.
"I told him, 'You're next.' And it was pretty true," Barr said with a laugh.
Fast forward to 2015. With his rookie season behind him, Barr mingled with fans at the Vikings Draft Party Thursday night and watched teams make their first-round picks.
He waited to hear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announce Kendricks' name, but it didn't happen that evening. Thirteen picks into Round 2 the next day, however, the Vikings were on the clock – and drafted Kendricks with the 54th overall spot.
Asked if the two of them had ever discussed the possibility, Barr said the chances hadn't even warranted much of a conversation.
"It was always more so that we supported one another," Barr said. "Wherever he went, wherever I went, whatever the situation was, we had an understanding that we were going to be there for one another.