With the Minnesota Vikings' final road trip of this 2025 season now at an end—a road trip that resulted in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants—Kevin O'Connell & Co. will close out the campaign at U.S. Bank Stadium against a pair of NFC North rivals, first taking on the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day and then the Green Bay Packers in Week 18.
While these games may not technically matter to the Vikings, as they've been officially eliminated from postseason contention, they undoubtedly matter to safety Harrison Smith, as these may genuinely be the final two games of his illustrious career.
And if that is indeed the case, Minnesota fans should savor these final moments, as he's been one of the most consistent and productive defensive players ever to wear the purple and gold.
Even if Harrison Smith wants to keep playing, the Minnesota Vikings might not be able to afford to re-sign him
Taken by the Vikings in the first round of the 2012 draft, Smith, following Sunday's win over the Giants, has now played 205 career regular-season games for Minnesota, good for the fifth-most in franchise history behind only Jim Marshall (270), Mick Tingelhoff (242), Fred Cox (210), and Carl Eller (209).
And despite his physical style of play, the Notre Dame alum has appeared in at least 13 games in 13 of his 14 seasons, the only exception being his second year in 2013, when an injury to his left foot cost him eight games.
It was just after that season that Smith started playing the best football of his career, notching a career-high five interceptions during the 2014 campaign, a total he matched three additional times.
In 2015, he began a seven-season stretch that saw him earn six trips to the Pro Bowl and a pair of All-Pro selections, making the First Team in 2017 and the Second Team in 2018.
Including Sunday's game against New York, Smith has recorded 1,177 total tackles, 49 tackles for a loss, 44 QB hits, 20.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 103 passes defended, and 38 interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns. That's one incredible career right there.
Set to turn 37 on February 2, Smith hasn't yet committed to retirement, saying just last week that he's taking things day by day. In that same interview, however, he also stated that it's "harder to go to practice" and "harder to get ready to go" for each game.
Don't get things twisted, though, as anyone who has watched the Vikings this season knows he still brings plenty of intensity. Just ask Jaxson Dart.
Over the last few offseasons, Smith has taken some time to contemplate his future, and one would assume he'll do the same once this season comes to a close.
But if he does decide he wants to return for a 15th season, he might have to do so at a highly reduced rate, as the Vikings are in a rough position in terms of salary cap space and may not be able to afford the same one-year, $11 million restructured contract they gave him earlier this year.