Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips described the absence of leadership following quarterback Kirk Cousins’ departure. Cousins, who was with the Vikings for six years, recently decided to leave and signed a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

Elite Minnesota Vikings Defender Thinks Kirk Cousins’ Departure May Result in Improvement

Phillips explained that Kirk Cousins’ departure leaves a significant leadership gap that will require multiple teammates to fill. He mentioned in an NFL.com article that he believes the team could benefit from more players taking on leadership roles.

“There’s gonna be a huge loss,” Phillips said during an interview on NFL Total Access. “Kirk Cousins was not only a great player but also an exceptional leader and teammate. He was incredibly humble, a servant leader, and a great motivator. It’s a big void in our locker room. Asking one person to fill that void is probably unrealistic.

“So, what we’re going to do is build a strong leadership team, which we’ve already seen forming. There are players on this roster, some are already captains, some will be captains in the future, who demonstrate leadership qualities. We’re going to share the load and work together. Perhaps, by doing so, we can become an even better football team.

“Kirk is obviously amazing. I’ve learned a lot from him, especially in terms of leadership. That’s an area I’m trying to step up and improve my game by honing those skills.”

Harrison Phillips, who is reaching veteran status, could be one of the players that will have to step up for the Minnesota Vikings

Despite being with the Minnesota Vikings for only two years, Harrison Phillips is entering his seventh year in the NFL. Coming off his most productive season, he could be one of the players expected to step up and fill the leadership gap left by Cousins.

In his initial three years, Phillips never surpassed 35 tackles in a season. However, over the last three years, he consistently recorded over 50 tackles, reaching an impressive 92 tackles in 2023. Phillips’ knack for controlling the interior of the defensive line might translate into his ability to lead the defense as a whole.

Harrison Phillips driving the center back then shedding him to make the third-and-1 stop a gap over. Really good player who does all the dirty work: pic.twitter.com/fZ00J3BAZk

— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) November 13, 2023

Phillips hasn’t reached Pro Bowl status yet, but if he continues the trend he showed from 2022 to 2023, he could easily become one of the top players on the Vikings’ defense.

Despite high praise from former teammates, Kirk Cousins’ leadership didn’t result in much for the Minnesota Vikings

Despite the Vikings not being at the bottom of the league with Cousins as their quarterback, they didn’t achieve significant success either. Their highest point with Cousins was reaching the divisional round in 2019, but they ultimately lost. Before Cousins joined the team, the Vikings made it to the NFC Championship Game.

In 2022, the Vikings had a 13-4 record but lost in the wild-card round. If a Vikings team led by leadership from multiple players can win more than one playoff game in six years, they would have more success than a team led by Kirk Cousins.