Fans of the Minnesota Vikings are fortunate this season to have safety Harrison Smith return for his 14th season. There were concerns the 36-year-old defender would hang up his cleats and retire this offseason.
Smith isn't the only player who wore a purple and gold jersey who has a decision to make this offseason. There are several former Vikings who could retire this season who contributed to the team in the past.
Six former Minnesota Vikings who could retire from the NFL in 2025
Case Keenum, QB (2017)
He will always be remembered for the Minneapolis Miracle, but Case Keenum has carved out a solid career for himself after being an undrafted free agent in 2012. His one season with the Vikings saw him start 14 games where he threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Since his time in purple and gold, Keenum had some starting opportunities around the league but returned to backup duties and bounced around a few franchises. A free agent, he will hope to latch on to a team soon.
Eric Kendricks, LB (2015-2022)
A second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, Eric Kendricks played eight seasons for the purple and gold before heading to the Chargers in 2023 and then the Cowboys in 2024. Still a starter in the league, the former Pro Bowl linebacker has been solid his whole career.
Now 33 years old, Kendricks is an unrestricted free agent and there haven't been many reports of interest in his services so far. While he could still find a team before the 2025 NFL season rolls around, it wouldn't be shocking to see him focus on other parts of his life and retire before he starts to decline in play.
Linval Joseph, DT (2014-2019)
Fans can likely still remember the image of him on the sideline with an oxygen mask and sunglasses on after rumbling for a long interception return for a touchdown. The six-foot-four, 329-pound defensive lineman was an anchor for the defense for many years.
A second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2010. Joseph will turn 37 years old this year. He hasn't started a game since 2022 and hasn't made the Pro Bowl since 2017. It's hard to blame him for playing as long as his body allows him to, but he may have played his final season in the league.
Stephon Gilmore, CB (2024)
The NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Stephon Gilmore isn't the shutdown corner he used to be. His play with the Vikings in 2024 was up and down, as he started 15 games for Minnesota during that stretch.
It's hard to play at an elite level for a long time. Gilmore will turn 35 years old this year and it's hard to imagine him earning his fifth Pro Bowl nod or third All-Pro First team honor in 2025 unless he finds the Fountain of Youth.
Dalvin Cook, RB (2017-2022)
It's weird to think of Dalvin Cook retiring since he was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft and is only 29 years old, but it's not out of the question for him to call it a career before the start of the 2025 NFL season.
Cook has started one game and has yet to score a touchdown since leaving Minnesota. His practice squad deal with the Dallas Cowboys expired and now he shouldn't be expected to be brought back, meaning he will probably need to find a new team for 2025 if he hopes to stay in the league.
Mike Zimmer, coach (2014-2021)
A hard-nosed coach that finished his time with the Minnesota Vikings with a 72-58-1 record, Mike Zimmer's legacy with the franchise will likely be remembered for the messy way it ended with general manager Rick Spielman.
Zimmer returned to the NFL to be the Cowboys' defensive coordinator. That didn't work out well for either side. He will not return to Dallas, but he hasn't officially retired yet. This is the closest to a sure thing on this list.