Most game days, Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss find themselves standing side-by-side during the National Anthem.

It's not a planned tradition, Richter says, but an organic one between teammates and friends who share a deep respect for the United States military.

Each outside linebacker has a different background, different upbringing, different connection to the military. But each credits a portion of his football career to that connection.

Chambliss is forever impacted by his father, Cliff, who served 25 years in the U.S. Army, including time as a drill sergeant. He tragically passed away in 2020, 10 months after suffering a stroke.

"He meant everything to me," Chambliss said of his dad. "He was my hero growing up. Seeing how hard he worked for our family, coming from nothing.

"He pushed me hard, but he definitely took a step back [when it came to football] and kind of let me figure out my own plan," Chambliss added. "All he cared about was that I did it the right way. I did everything as hard as I could with as much effort as I could."

It's a work ethic noticed by coaches and teammates alike, including Richter — who demonstrates a similar dedication to his craft. He and Chambliss conducted the interviews for this feature on a day when players were not required to be at the Vikings facility. Both (as well as several teammates) still opted to come to the team's facility.

"Chaz will probably be here 15 hours over the next two days," quipped Richter, also referencing the players' bonus time for a Victory Monday and scheduled Tuesday day off.

Richter relishes in structure and discipline, as well — qualities he says were instilled while growing up but enhanced during a college career at Air Force.

Truthfully, Richter never envisioned himself attending a military academy. He doesn't come from a military family and didn't previously feel a specific connection to the Armed Services. But after hearing from multiple schools and understanding all that came along with attending and playing for Air Force, he felt drawn to the Colorado Springs campus.

"I always tell people that the service mandate after, the five-year service commitment … when you're in high school or even your earlier years in college, for most people it's kind of like a 'have to.' You get school, you get to play football, but you have to serve on the back end. And then the longer you're there, it turns into a 'get to.' You get to go serve your country."

Chambliss grew up in a family of servicemembers, having had — in addition to his father — grandfathers, great-grandfathers and uncles serve in the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Army. If he hadn't found the success he did on the gridiron, Chambliss said, he likely would be in the military now.

When he joined the Vikings as an undrafted rookie in 2025, Chambliss felt an immediate connection to Richter, a 2024 undrafted free agent.

"He took care of me as soon as I came in, put me under his wing," Chambliss said. "He has those values I look for in a friend and teammate. There's some comfortability because I know he's been through a lot of things all my family members have been through."

Although they're not actively serving, Chambliss and Richter apply skills they've learned away from football to the game they're equally passionate about.

Both play significant roles on Minnesota's special teams, a phase they personally love and are appreciative the Vikings emphasize so heavily.

"We practice twice as much special teams as [some] other teams to make sure we're executing at a higher level," Chambliss said.

"It's my way to impact the team, impact the game," he noted. "I like the fact that it's a one-play phase where you have to be perfect in every aspect of it. The challenge of it — because everyone has be on the same page or else it's out of the gate, the punt is blocked, or you don't block the punt. Just a lot of attention to detail."

Richter shared similar sentiments and added his affinity for individual matchups special teams phases provide.

"There's a lot less thinking involved and more just doing — seeing if you can win your matchup against your man," Richter explained. "I love that. You don't get that many 1-on-1 pass-rush attempts when you're playing defense, but you know a lot of times on special teams you're going to get them — and that's a huge part of the game."

Richter and Chambliss are grateful to play for Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels and appreciate his approach to the game. "Coach Hat" keeps an open line of dialogue with players and often applies their input to a game plan, incorporating their perspective on how they believe they can make the most impact.

"We have a lot of good players and a lot of guys who are good at doing different things," Richter said, "so it's kind of a chess match, making sure we have all the matchups that we want, and he's totally open to everybody's opinion on how to get there."

Daniels is likewise thankful to work with a crew of players that includes Richter and Chambliss, the latter of whom he noted "prepares the right way, is as versatile as ever and courageous as ever."

Daniels highlighted Richter's unique size/speed/power combo that allow him to match up on safeties or larger players.

"And I can't say enough about the job he's done and the leadership roles he's been able to take on this year of being a good voice in the room of understanding the way we practice, the way we want to play," Daniels said. "I really appreciate what Bo continues to bring week in and week out to the table."

Richter is proud to have assumed a leadership role in the locker room. He and Chambliss, whose locker sits near Richter's, are equally proud to use their platforms to highlight active U.S. military members, veterans and those servicemembers no longer with us.

Chambliss paid homage Week 1 to the late Pat Tillman, the former Cardinals safety who turned down a second NFL contract to enlist in the United States Army in May 2002. Tillman deployed to Iraq and later Afghanistan, where he was killed in April 2004.

"I always want to honor Pat Tillman," said Chambliss, who arrived at U.S. Bank Stadium wearing Tillman's No. 40 jersey. "Because given the circumstances, his decision was probably one of the hardest decisions anybody could make — to step away from the game you grew up playing and [loving] to fight for your country."

Looking ahead to the Vikings Salute to Service game Monday night, Chambliss is grateful for the opportunity to honor his father, Tillman and all those who have made tremendous sacrifices as part of the United States military.

"It means the world to me."

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