Home of Beloved Former Viking Burglarized

Rating the Vikings
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Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr is a free agent on the open market — and his home was reportedly burglarized on Friday.

Home of Beloved Former Viking Burglarized

TMZ broke the story late last week, and thankfully, Barr was not home at the time of the incident.

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“Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Barr is the latest celeb Angeleno to fall victim to crime … law enforcement tells TMZ Sports his L.A.-area pad was burglarized on Friday,” TMZ wrote. “We’re told the four-time Pro Bowler’s crib was hit at around 2 AM … when, according to our sources, three men smashed through a rear window and then ransacked the place.”

Barr last played for the Vikings, signed midseason when linebacker Jordan Hicks battled a scary injury known as compartment syndrome.

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“Barr’s security cameras, our sources say, caught the action — and police were quickly notified. By the time the LAPD officers got to the scene, however, the burglars were gone,” TMZ continued. “Fortunately for Barr, an NFL free agent, he was not at home at the time of the break-in. It’s currently unclear exactly what was stolen in the heist. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made … and an investigation remains ongoing.”

The article also claimed similar burglaries have recently beset several other celebrities in the same area.

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Drafted by Minnesota in 2014 at the start of the Mike Zimmer era, Barr played 102 games in eight seasons for the Vikings, recording four Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2018. From 2020 to 2021, Barr missed 63% of all football games for the Vikings, and Minnesota’s defense suffered accordingly. In Barr’s first six seasons, the Vikings’ defense ranked #1 in the NFL per defensive EPA/Play. From 2020 to 2021 — largely without the services of Danielle Hunter and Barr — the franchise sunk to 23rd in the same metric.

In his 10-season career, Barr has tabulated 554 total tackles, 48 QB hits, 41 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, and five interceptions. He was also nominated for a Humanitarian Award at the ESPYs two summers ago but lost to former MLBer Albert Pujols.

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In March, Minnesota signed veteran linebackers Blake Cashman and Kamu Grugier-Hill to replace the outgoing Barr and Hicks. Hicks ended up with the Cleveland Browns, while Barr awaits his 2024 marching orders, if any. The Dallas Cowboys would make sense as a destination because Barr played for Dallas in 2022, Mike Zimmer runs the defense, and Eric Kendricks joined the club in the spring.

Barr turned 32 in March.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.