A big 2020 season is awaiting Vikings safety Harrison Smith

Smith’s career so far

To say Harrison Smith has lived up to his expectations with the Vikings would be something of an understatement.

The safety came into the NFL with a glowing reputation after a standout college career at Notre Dame. What came next propelled him into superstardom and saw him in contention for the best player at his position.

Smith made an instant impression during his rookie season. A series of exceptional displays saw him secure 104 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections, three interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble, and two touchdowns. He also played an astonishing 91 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

Injury restricted Smith to just eight games during 2013, but he still managed to secure 58 combined tackles, two interceptions, and three pass deflections. He continued this rise to prominence during the next three seasons to firmly establish himself as an elite defensive playmaker in the NFL.

From 2014 to 2017, Smith recorded 327 combined tackles, eight sacks, 12 interceptions, and 26 pass deflections. He was a menace in the run game, on passing downs, and he was used prominently by Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer in blitz packages at the line of scrimmage.

Although the Vikings didn’t make the playoffs in 2018, Smith still managed to play a leading role on his way to 84 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, and six pass deflections.

He needed to be at his best during Minnesota’s cornerback struggles in 2019. He managed to attain 85 combined tackles, three forced fumbles, one sack, three interceptions, and 11 pass deflections.

He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection while also earning a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2017 and a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2018.