It has been over 12 years since the Minnesota Vikings used the No. 29 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft to select Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith. Since joining the Purple and Gold, he has played 192 games, been named to six Pro Bowls, and was All-Pro First and Second Team.
For many Vikings fans, Harrison Smith is synonymous with Minnesota. His presence in the defensive secondary strikes fear in many opponents and brings legitimacy to a defense that hasn't always been one of the better units in the league.
Eventually, all good things must come to an end. It is possible that Smith's NFL career comes to an end this offseason and it means Minnesota's defense could look significantly different for the 2025 NFL season.
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy weighs in on Harrison Smith possibly retiring from the NFL
While Harrison Smith's retirement could mean the end of an era in Minnesota, the future could be 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The former national champion quarterback at Michigan will get his chance to prove himself soon, even if he might not have Harrison Smith in the locker room when that happens.
Recently, J.J. McCarthy posted a reel that showed Minnesota's young quarterback with the veteran safety. McCarthy did not hide his feelings about wanting Harrison Smith to be his teammate in 2025 by using the hashtag #onemoreyear22
Harrison Smith will turn 36 years old on February 2, and is the second-oldest player on the Minnesota Vikings roster behind long snapper Andrew DePaola. In contrast, J.J. McCarthy is 22 years old and hopefully has a long future ahead of him.
The Vikings are probably hoping that Harrison Smith sticks around for another year because of how many defensive backs on the team are scheduled to hit free agency. Keeping him around could help Brian Flores' unit return as one of most dynamic groups in the league.
One of the biggest debates about Harrison Smith is how his legacy will be remembered. He should be considered a lock for the Vikings Ring of Honor but there are also great arguments for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Whether Harrison Smith is a Hall of Fame player or not, he has a huge supporter in J.J. McCarthy. However, time will tell if the two notable Minnesota Vikings players will be teammates for the 2025 NFL season.