Harrison Smith Adds Hall of Fame Data Point on Christmas
The Minnesota Vikings had very little to play for on Thursday against the Detroit Lions. With a 7-8 record and the playoffs no longer a possibility, they could have come out and laid an egg. For someone like Harrison Smith, though, that would have been a wasted opportunity with just two games left in his career.
Minnesota wasn’t playing for January anymore, but Smith still treated Christmas like a statement game — and his latest impact moment came in a Vikings win that mattered for his legacy.
All but expected to retire at the end of the season, Smith certainly didn’t want to go out like this for the Vikings. It’s a team game, though, and he can’t control the offense, quarterback play, or the defensive talent around him. He can control his own production, and it only seems to have ratcheted up in recent weeks.
Harrison Smith Keeps Building the Hall of Fame Case
Last time out against the Giants, Smith blasted Jaxson Dart but had the sack taken away because he was too upright and connected with the helmet of the New York quarterback. On Thursday, he leveled Jared Goof, and that one wasn’t taken away. He also picked off a pass and only continued to add to his Hall of Fame resume.
Across 14 years, Smith has played in 206 games and drawn starts in 202 of them. The sack pushed his career total to 21.5. He added two tackles for loss, which upped his career total to 51, and his interception was the 39th picked pass of his career.
To say he put together a standout performance would be an understatement. Despite being 36 years old, Smith looks every bit the part of a guy with short bursts of high-level play still in his arsenal.
There are plenty of debates to be had regarding NFL players’ Hall of Fame candidacy. Oftentimes, it seems as though near locks are left out only to be debated over for quite some time. Sitting in Minnesota, there’s no doubt that Smith will waltz his way into the team’s ring of honor. He was their 29th overall pick in 2012 and has remained with the team since.
Vikings fandom aside, the six-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro should be a certain selection for a bust in Canton, Ohio. Harrison Smith has given everything he could to the Minnesota Vikings, and he has often been among the best at his position every year for more than a decade. It’s too bad he didn’t come closer to a Super Bowl ring, but enshrinement wouldn’t be a bad alternative.
You must be logged in to post a comment.