Turns out Aaron Donald isn’t the only elite defensive player making a triumphant return from retirement to play in the NFL this season. Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams after two years out of football got all the attention, but safety Harrison Smith’s return to the Minnesota Vikings might be just as important.
Smith never officially retired, but his contract had ended after the 2025 season, which was the safety’s 14th year as the anchor of Minnesota’s secondary. There had been speculation that he might return, but nothing was certain until Saturday, when it was reported that he is signing a one-year, $12.25 million deal to play his 15th NFL season.
The 37-year-old Smith has 39 career interceptions, tops among all active players. In 2025, Smith finished with two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The importance of Smith playing this season is that he provides the perfect complement to the Vikings’ pressure packages up front. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves to blitz — Minnesota led the NFL last season with a 41.4% blitz rate, and they finished tied for third with 49 sacks. With outside linebackers Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel spearheading the pass rush, Smith provides the veteran leadership and big-play ability in the secondary to pick up the pieces when the blitzers force opposing quarterbacks into making mistakes.
It’s not unlike the Purple People Eaters defense of the early 1970s, when the Vikings featured the likes of Jim Marshall and Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller in the front seven. If those guys didn’t get the sack, Hall of Fame safety Paul Krause was playing center field to grab any lame ducks the quarterbacks threw. That helped Krause record 81 career interceptions, still the NFL’s all-time record.
In 2024, Krause told Athlon Sports that Smith deserves all the credit he gets.
“Harrison is a good back,” Krause said. “I think he’s probably the best defensive safety in the game.”
Smith’s absence when training camp began wasn’t lost on Flores.
“I think Harry’s contributions to the team went a lot further than just on the field,” Flores said when camp opened in late July. “I think collectively there’s a sense of trying to bring what he brought to the table from a communication and leadership standpoint. With him not being here, I still haven’t gotten over it. Obviously he brought a lot to our team. We love him dearly. Hope he hears that, and knows what I mean by that. I think his impact on the other guys, as far as leadership, communication, ownership of the defense… We’ve got a few other guys who learned that from him.”
In other words, even if Smith isn’t fully prepared to make an immediate impact on the field, Smith’s leadership should help when the Vikings open the season Sunday at home vs. the NFC North-rival Green Bay Packers. That’s one of just five division games in Week 1, and a victory could set the tone for a big season in Minnesota.
Under head coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings went 13-4 in 2022 and 14-3 in 2024. If quarterback Kyler Murray can play well in his first season with the team, getting the most out of elite wide receiver Justin Jefferson, then Smith’s return to the defense could be a massive asset that leads to a division title and maybe more.
Donald and the Rams might be the consensus team to beat in the NFL this season, but Smith’s return helps the Vikings shape up to be an intriguing sleeper pick.
