Former Vikings lineman reveals why he was forced to leave the NFL

Last season saw former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Mike Harris sit out every game due to an unknown health condition, which eventually caused him to end his career in the NFL.

A year after helping the Minnesota Vikings capture the NFC North title in 2015, Mike Harris was preparing to aid the Vikings to repeat as division champs in 2016.

However, when Minnesota’s training camp began that season, Harris was not listed on the team’s active roster. Instead, he began the year on the team’s reserve/non-football illness list.

Questions began to surround what could possibly be keeping Harris off the field and rumors started to spread amongst those who follow the team.

Well recently, the former Vikings lineman spoke to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson and revealed that during the team’s 2016 OTAs, he experienced something that made him feel like he, “was having a stroke,” according to Harris.

Minnesota Vikings

After undergoing tests at a local Minnesota medical facility shortly following this incident, doctors came to a conclusion that the lineman had experienced a brain arteriovenous malformation. In simple terms, Harris’ stroke-like incident was caused by blood vessels tangling inside of his brain.

Pretty scary stuff for anyone to go through, let alone someone whose job consists of getting pummeled in the head on the regular.

The good news is that the former Vikings lineman is expected to be just fine, but doctors have advised him to end his career as a football player given the risk of his brain potentially sustaining more problems from incidents of head trauma.

Despite Harris not playing in a game for them in 2016, Minnesota was still generous enough to pay him $400,000 of his salary last year. Something they did not have to do, but also something that their former lineman obviously appreciated.

Next: NFC North Report - Week 3

In total, Harris spent three of his five NFL seasons as a part of the Vikings organization.