Minnesota Vikings veteran safety Harrison Smith called game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. His pick of quarterback Daniel Jones with a little more than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of an Indianapolis comeback.
It also put Smith in a very exclusive club.
The interception was the safety’s 40th of his 15-year NFL career. With the pick, he joined the 40/20 club — 40 interceptions and 20 sacks in a career.
The Vikings highlighted the accomplishment on the team’s official X account after the win in Week 7.
Smith is only the third player in NFL history with at least 40 interceptions and 20 sacks. The other two are Pro Football Hall of Fame members Ronde Barber and Charles Woodson.
Thanks in part to Smith’s interception Sunday, the Vikings stayed undefeated, improving to 6-0. The Vikings defeated the Colts 16-10.
Vikings’ Harrison Smith Makes History With Interception vs. Colts
Smith couldn’t have selected a more important time for his first pick of the season. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal on offense with under 100 seconds left in regulation. The kick ensured the Colts needed a touchdown, but the game remained a one-possession contest.
Jones completed a 13-yard pass to Josh Downs to start the drive. Smith then intercepted the quarterback on the next play.
Fittingly, Smith’s 40th career interception came at about the Vikings 40-yard line.
“Awesome, awesome moment there for Harrison Smith getting interception No. 40,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters. “Then putting that ball down on the 40-yard line.”
After the pick, quarterback Kyler Murray took two kneel downs to end the game.
In addition to the interception, Smith posted four total tackles, one pass defense and one quarterback hit Sunday. He also had 0.5 sacks.
Smith has registered 40 interceptions and 22 sacks over 213 games in the NFL. He hasn’t been a starter this season for Minnesota, but clearly, when the game is on the line, he can still be a key defender.
From 2015-21, Smith was one of the top safeties in the league. During that stretch, he made six Pro Bowl teams and received two All-Pro nominations. Smith earned first-team All-Pro recognition during 2017 when he had 12 pass defenses, five interceptions and 1.5 sacks.
Smith has posted five interceptions in a season three times — 2017, 2020 and 2022. He recorded a career-best three sacks in 2018, 2021 and 2023.
Vikings Announce Major Harrison Smith News After Game-Winning INT vs. Colts