Vikings Release You Know Who
He may still return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, but for the first time ever, safety Harrison Smith has been released. As a procedural matter on Wednesday, Minnesota cut Smith, who has yet to decide whether to return or retire.
Smith could still return, but the Vikings finally opened the door to a real transition plan.
Had Smith informed the team he planned to return for Year No. 15 before Wednesday, the Vikings could’ve merely reworked his contract. But Smith still needs time to lock in his choice.
Harrison Smith Release Isn’t the Final Word
Fans await Smith’s official “yes or no” on 2026.
On Paper, Vikings Release Smith
At this precise moment, Smith is no longer a Viking.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters broke the news on Wednesday, “The Vikings on Wednesday announced a post-June 1 release of safety Harrison Smith. The procedural move, which spreads a cap hit over two seasons, does not indicate where Smith is at in his decision of whether to return for a 15th season in Minnesota.”
“The 37-year-old passed the 200-game threshold in 2025 and has started 203 of 207 regular-season games since joining the Vikings as a first-round pick in 2012. Smith has 39 career interceptions, the most among 2025 active NFL players, and 21.5 sacks.”
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling added via tweet, “The Vikings will release Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation today, per source. It’s a procedural move, since Smith had a $25 million base salary guarantee for 2027 that was set to trigger later this week, but the Vikings would still welcome his return and they’ve talked with him about the move.”
“Smith has not made his decision about whether he’ll play a 15th season; this move will give him time to consider the choice while freeing a roster spot.”
Think of it this way: if Smith opts for retirement, March 11th will be the day that Minnesota formally cuts ties; if he returns, March 11th will mean nothing.
Smith Is “50/50”
Smith sure sounded like a man on the verge of retirement in early January. Vikings fans actually had a farewell party for Smith in Week 18 when his team toppled the suddenly lowly Detroit Lions. He said after the game that he was “leaning one way” on retirement or a return, but left the door open — somewhat cryptically.
Fast forward to March, and Smith is still undecided. One source told VikingsTerritory last week that Smith was “50/50” about returning and that he “has a hard time walking away.”
Kevin O’Connell said in December that he wanted Smith back: “I’ve been nudge-nudging and kind of catching him, picking my spots to keep on saying, ‘I know you’re having a lot of fun doing it. One of the best to ever do it in this uniform, man. He’s remarkable. He’s one of my absolute, all-time favorites.”
In fact, Smith seemed to get better as the 2025 campaign wore on. He battled a mysterious ailment to start the season but finished the year on a high note with a couple of interceptions.
Waiting on the QB Outcome?
On the other hand, perhaps Smith cannot stomach the idea of Minnesota winning a Super Bowl without him the moment he retires. In that vein, he may be watching the team’s quarterback decision — just like you — weighing the realism of hoisting a Lombardi next season with J.J. McCarthy at the helm versus somebody else.
Meanwhile, on the same day that Minnesota “released” Smith, the Arizona Cardinals cut Kyler Murray after seven seasons, and he’s now tentatively expected to sign a one-year deal with the Vikings, so long as the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a trick up their sleeve.
There’s a small chance that Smith sees the eventual Murray signing — the writing is on the wall for it — and presses the go-button on his final season in 2026. Minnesota won nine games last year with the league’s fifth-worst quarterback production. Murray could be the main elixir.
The Safety Need Question as a Matter of Roster Planning
The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to offer a strong class of safeties, making it a good opportunity for teams seeking talent at the position. With several proven veterans also potentially available, teams will have options. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman would make sense in Round 1 as a direct Smith replacement.
Keep an eye on younger vets like Jaquan Brisker, too, from free agency, who remains available at the time of this article’s publication.
For the Vikings, planning for the future beyond Smith is a pressing concern. While Smith could return for a 15th season, perhaps in a limited role, the Vikings must prioritize their long-term strategy in the coming weeks. Their past decisions, such as allowing Camryn Bynum to leave last offseason, should serve as a cautionary example.
If Minnesota decides to secure its future at the safety position, the time is now. It’s an offseason priority whether Smith stays or goes.
Should Smith return and play at least five games, he will pass Carl Eller and Fred Cox on the Vikings’ all-time games played list, leaving the franchise for good with the third-most behind Jim Marshall and Mick Tingelhoff.
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