Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips is using his NFL platform to give back to the community that helped shape him. The Omaha native recently returned to his roots to help train the next generation of athletes at ETS Performance, a new state-of-the-art training facility in Elkhorn, Nebraska.
As fall sports season approaches and young athletes gear up for the upcoming school year, Phillips is stepping in to make sure they’re prepared both physically and mentally. At ETS Performance, Phillips hosted a special training session modeled after an NFL combine, giving local athletes a chance to work directly with a professional football player while experiencing high-level performance training.
“We’re doing a bunch of different running drills, our flying 10s, pro agility drills—all the things you’d see in a combine,” said Peyton Francis, a junior at Bellevue West High School. Francis, like many of the young athletes in attendance, has dreams of playing football at the collegiate level. For him, the opportunity to train with Phillips was inspiring.
“Just seeing someone from Omaha, because Nebraska is kind of smaller, seeing how far they can make it kind of shows me and other football players that you can make it too, as long as you have your mind right for it,” Francis said. His words reflect the ripple effect Phillips’ success has had on the local community, motivating kids to chase their athletic dreams regardless of where they come from.
While the ETS Performance facility has quietly been serving athletes in the area for a while, the recent grand opening celebration gave new athletes and their families a chance to tour the facility, meet the staff, and see firsthand how the training programs operate. Phillips played a central role in the event, helping guide participants through drills and explaining the gym’s philosophy.
“Before you get to go lift weights or do anything, we’re going to put you through an assessment,” Phillips explained. “We figure out what your individual, specific needs are and modify a plan specifically for you.”
That customized approach to athletic training is what sets ETS Performance apart. The gym focuses not only on improving speed, strength, and agility but also on injury prevention—a topic Phillips feels passionately about. Looking back on his own youth sports experience, he wishes he had access to this kind of specialized training when he was younger.
“We want to help these kids become better athletes, but also smarter athletes,” Phillips said. “Learning how to move correctly and safely is just as important as getting faster or stronger.”
Parents in the community echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to have their children learn from elite-level coaches and athletes like Phillips. With the increasing demands of competitive sports, having a resource like ETS Performance in Elkhorn provides a significant advantage for young athletes hoping to elevate their game.
For Phillips, this is more than just a one-time event. It’s about investing in the Omaha community and creating opportunities for the next generation. By bringing his professional knowledge and experience back home, he’s helping pave the way for local athletes to succeed both on and off the field.