Harrison Smith Returns To Vikings For 15th Season

Veteran safety Harrison Smith is back for a 15th season. In what is an unusual career path, Smith has played his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings.

Smith contemplated retirement for months, and the team finally announced that he’d be returning. Smith is signing a one-year deal for $12.25 million.

Last season was expected to be his last, with plans to honor him at the team’s final home game.

The Vikings have an outside shot at the playoffs, given expectations heading into the season, and the defense seems to be taking a veteran approach.

They play in a very strong division, which hurts their chances, as the Bears, Packers, and Lions have all had strong seasons in recent years and have not made many roster changes.

The Vikings finished last in the NFC North last year at 9-8, but were quite the disappointment after winning the division the two years prior.

Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores has also brought in Kyle Van Noy to help with the pass rush.

The offense is going with a similar approach, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has brought in Kyler Murray to start over third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who won a national championship at Michigan.

Unless there are fitness concerns in the coming weeks, Harrison should start comfortably and is currently listed at the top of the free safety depth chart as of now.

Other notable free safeties that’ll play behind Harrison are Theo Jackson, Jacob Thomas and Jakobe Thomas.

Harrison will likely play alongside longtime Vikings player as well as Joshua Metellus, who plays the strong safety position.

This is expected to be Smith’s last season, partly because he signed a one-year deal, but he could be keeping his options open. There is hardly any doubt that the 37-year-old wants to finish his career in Minnesota.