Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold-medal wrestling phenom, earlier took a wild swing when he signed with the Buffalo Bills as a defensive tackle in May 2024—no football résumé, just pure athletic audacity. However, the Bills cut him loose in August 2024, ending a brief but bold detour from his mat mastery. Now, with his sights locked on NCAA wrestling domination, Steveson’s back at Minnesota, charging toward the March 2025 Finals. The surprise element in this, you may ask? Well, an old friend paid a visit.
Enter Harrison Phillips, a name that ties this tale together with a shared Bills’ past and a wrestler’s grit. The 29-year-old is a standout defensive tackle in the NFL and currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2018. Known for his tenacity on the field, Phillips has carved out a solid career with 207 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss over three seasons with the Vikings.
And for the unversed, Phillips was a three-time Class A state wrestling champion at Millard West High in Omaha, NE, where he wrestled at 215 pounds. Further, in February, he was listed at 307 pounds on the Vikings’ website. Even just a few days ago as well, the defensive tackle paid a visit to the University of Minnesota campus, where he was seen training with Gable Steveson. In the video shared by Gophers, the two were captured wrestling it off on the mat while Steveson was pinning the NFL player.
And now, Philips took to Instagram and shared a photo of himself with the man of the moment Gable Steveson.
Fans see their mid-March mat session not just as a flex—but as fuel for the Olympic champ’s psyche as he barrels toward a third NCAA title in Philly. For Steveson’s fans, it’s a hype train at full throttle: their golden boy’s morale is sky-high, and with Phillips’ boost, they’re dreaming of another trophy—as this NCAA journey has been incredible for the wrestler.
Since his return to the Gophers this season, Gable Steveson has once again established himself as a dominant force
Three years ago, Gable Steveson appeared to conclude his amateur wrestling journey. He capped off his dominant 2021-22 season with the Gophers by securing his second straight NCAA heavyweight crown, celebrating with a memorable backflip as the arena roared its approval.
Now Gable Steveson is back with the Gophers for one last collegiate stand at the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia this Thursday through Saturday. In his final tournament, he aims to secure his third national title and achieve an even greater legacy.
With unwavering confidence, Steveson stated his goal for Saturday night’s final match: “Hopefully, I go out there and win, solidifying my place as the best collegiate heavyweight ever. With my active 66-match winning streak and a 99-2 collegiate record, it has to be. I don’t see any other outcome.”
Steveson’s aim to be the best requires him to deliver top-notch performance in the finals. Lifting his third NCAA championship trophy would firmly establish him in wrestling’s elite. Do you think he can do it? Let us know in the comments below.
The post NFL Star Reunites With Gable Steveson as Former Bills Defensive Tackle in Training Ahead of NCAA Finals appeared first on EssentiallySports.