At 37 years of age, the veteran safety, boasting a league-high 39 career interceptions among active competitors, is back for a 15th year under a $12.25 million agreement to solidify the Minnesota defensive unit.
Sep 5, 2026
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8:35 pm ET
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1 min read
According to reports from NFL Media, the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a one-year contract valued at $12.25 million to retain their former All-Pro safety, Harrison Smith.
Widely regarded as a true franchise icon, the 37-year-old defender is set to embark on his 15th year in the league with Minnesota. Originally selected 12th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Smith accumulated six Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro nod over his initial 14-year tenure. All of his Pro Bowl appearances occurred between 2015 and 2021, and his first-team All-Pro selection in 2017 came during a campaign where he helped guide the team to the NFC Championship Game.
The veteran is highly regarded for his incredibly well-rounded statistics. No currently active NFL player has recorded more than his 39 career interceptions. Furthermore, his career totals include 1,180 tackles (with 51 of those behind the line of scrimmage), 21.5 quarterback sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 10 recovered fumbles, 106 defensed passes, and four pick-sixes.
Even though he has not earned a Pro Bowl nod since the 2021 campaign, Smith’s on-field contributions remain highly effective. Over the course of 15 matchups last year, he compiled an impressive stat line that featured a pair of interceptions, 10 defensed passes, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 54 total tackles.
He is set to return to a defensive unit that received a substantial influx of talent through April’s draft. The organization used five of its selections on defensive prospects, highlighted by first-round selection Caleb Banks alongside secondary additions Jakobe Thomas and Charles Demmings.
The Vikings are scheduled to kick off their 2026 campaign at home on September 13 against the division rival Green Bay Packers.
