Harrison Smith Tells All about His Return
Minnesota Vikings legend Harrison Smith will return for Year No. 14 in 2025, on deck to cross paths with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy for at least one season.
Harrison Smith Tells All about His Return
His team lost a Wildcard playoff game in January, and after the disappointing loss, Smith hinted more strongly at retirement than ever before, leading many to believe the defeat against the Los Angeles Rams was his final game.
But that theory was wrong, and Smith explained to Kay Adams this week why he returned.
What Harrison Smith Told Kay Adams
In short, Smith saw the team constructed by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and didn’t want to miss out. He told Adams on The Up and Adams Show, “I like what we did in free agency. I think we have a great group to start with, great coaching, great leadership, so I wanted to be apart of it. It’s definitely something you chase and I’m still chasing it. But the journey along the way is also important.”
“Enjoying the people you’re around and being productive and helping young guys come up. When I think of my career, if I wanted to ring chase, as they call it in basketball, that wouldn’t mean that much to me at this point in my career. I’m not knocking it all, but it wouldn’t be the same.”
Smith has shown no flagrant signs of performance-related decline, though he turned 36 this offseason. He continues to pad a Hall of Fame resume, featuring longevity as hit top talent.
“Yeah, for sure. I’ve given it thought for years. There will be a day that I’m done, it’s getting closer everyday,” Smith said about the prospect of retirement. He knows it’s imminent.
Previous Offseason Comments
Two weeks ago, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “Six-time Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith will return for a 14th NFL season, agreeing to terms today on a new contract with the Vikings, per sources. At age 36, Smith is still playing at a high level and can now add to his hall of fame resume.”
The contract is a $10.25 million base with incentives up to $14 million.
After the signing, Smith told Vikings.com about his return, “It starts with the leadership of this organization. From ownership with the Wilfs, and obviously with Kevin O’Connell and being able to play for him the last couple years, and being able to build this team the right way; and the culture, just knowing what we have here and what we’re capable of — what I believe we’re capable of — it was important for me to come back and chase something this year.”
It also probably doesn’t hurt that defensive coordinator Brian Flores is back for Year No. 3 following an offseason when he interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets. Flores has fully deployed Smith in his secondary since joining the Vikings as the defensive boss in 2025.
Minnesota’s defense ranked second in the NFL per EPA/Play this season, and Smith was a consistent starter in the secondary. He was not “one of those” old defenders who played sparingly.
The 2025 Safety Room
With Smith returning, Flores will showcase this safety room in 2025:
- Harrison Smith
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Bubba Bolden
The Vikings lost Camryn Bynum to free agency. He joined the Indianapolis Colts’ roster for $60 million over four years, creating a promotion for reservist safety Theo Jackson, who re-signed with Minnesota this offseason.
Life after Smith?
No matter what, the end is near for Smith — and he knows it.
Adofo-Mensah owns the 24th overall pick in the draft, which might be prime territory to select Smith’s eventual replacement. Two players stand out as candidates: Georgia’s Malaki Starks and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori. Both men should be considered possible draft choices for the Vikings, even if the club miserably struck out on Lewis Cine three years ago.
Smith’s career has included three Vikings coaches: Leslie Frazier, Mike Zimmer, and Kevin O’Connell. He’s the longest-tenured Viking by four seasons.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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