Harrison Smith is back with the Minnesota Vikings and despite missing all of training camp and the preseason while deciding upon his retirement, he intends to jump immediately back into the saddle upon his return to the gridiron.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Minnesota and Smith intend to start the six-time Pro Bowler in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell and DC Brian Flores pushed hard for Harrison Smith’s return,” Garafolo posted to X on Saturday, September 5. “This will be his second-highest-paid season at the age of 37. And he’s coming in with plans on playing next Sunday against the #Packers.”
Garafolo relayed the information as part of a repost of his initial report on Smith’s signing.
“The Hitman returns: The #Vikings and six-time Pro Bowl S Harrison Smith have agreed to a one-year deal, $12.25m deal, per me and @RapSheet,” Garofolo wrote. “Smith’s back for a 15th season in Minnesota at $16.25m max value tied to playoff incentives on a deal done by his agents at @AthletesFirst.”
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Smith’s return is a boon for Minnesota’s secondary, particularly given his knowledge of Flores’s complicated scheme and his role as a primary communicator on the backend of the defense.
However, Smith hasn’t been on the field really at all this offseason. On the one hand, that may be helpful after minor injury issues impacted him last season, not to mention the toll that 207 regular season games (203 starts), plus playoff appearances, across a career stretching back to 2012 have undoubtedly taken.
Smith tallied 54 tackles, including three tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble in 15 games played last season.
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Smith will now join the secondary as a starting safety alongside Josh Metellus and nickel cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
Minnesota’s defense finished ranked third in the league last season after allowing an average of 282.6 yards per game. The Vikings’ unit finished second in passing yards allowed per contest, giving up an average of 158.5 yards per outing. Smith’s return should help the team challenge the successes it had last season again in 2026.
The defense will navigate considerable turnover between last year and the upcoming campaign, as third-year pass-rusher Dallas Turner steps into a starting role off the edge opposite Andrew Van Ginkel. Turner replaces Jonathan Greenard, who the Vikings traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft in April for two third-round picks in return.
Minnesota also invested heavily in two rookies on the interior of the defensive line. The team drafted defensive tackle Caleb Banks in the first round (No. 18 overall) and also selected Domonique Orange in Round 3 (No. 82 overall).
The Vikings drafted linebacker Jake Golday in Round 2 (No. 51 overall) in between Banks and Orange. Based on Flores’s decisions during offseason work, Golday could play both inside and outside linebacker positions. Regardless, he is likely to contribute early and often as a meaningful part of Minnesota’s defense.
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