The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of things to sort out ahead of the 2026 season, but one of the bigger storylines is Harrison Smith’s future. The Vikings have been patiently waiting on Smith as he ponders retirement, but there is no sign of him leaning either way when it comes to his return for a 15th season.
But Vikings fans may have gotten a hint from KFXN radio analyst and Twin Cities media personality Ben Leber. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Leber recalled a conversation he had with Smith after last season ended, and Smith’s answer to his question about Eric Kendricks’s sudden return may finally produce a timeline for a potential return.
“I said, ‘Hey, man, like you’re really close to Eric Kendricks.’ You know, there’s a situation where he, not probably up to [him], you know, it probably wasn’t his doing, but he sat out for part of the year, then gets picked up by the [San Francisco 49ers] and actually plays really well for the 49ers at the end of the season.
I go, ‘Do you feel like that’s a similar path to you, like, where you maybe sit out for half the year, maybe wait for a contender, or maybe it’s the Vikings and then come back and play the latter half of the season.
And he looked at me, and he goes, ‘Yeah, I kind of like the way that sounds.”
Former Minnesota Vikings LB Eric Kendricks may have laid the blueprint for Harrison Smith’s return in 2026
If Smith does want to play in 2026, using Kendricks’s blueprint makes a lot of sense. Entering last year, Kendricks had played a decade in the NFL and even turned down a practice squad offer with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the 49ers late in the season.
While he only played in the final three games during the regular season, he took on an expanded role during the playoffs, starting both games and logging 19 tackles, including three for loss with a pass deflection.
Kendricks is three years younger than Smith, but the latter has several reasons to take a similar approach. Smith committed to playing during the spring of 2025, but it was a turbulent year that included a personal illness that affected his training and lingered into training camp, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.
When Smith returned to the field, it was on a limited basis as he didn’t play more than 50 snaps in a game until a Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Pro Football Focus.
His play also wasn’t to Smith’s standards as he posted a 58.6 overall grade in his first 10 games before he rebounded with an 80.7 overall grade in the final five games.
Some of Smith’s late-season performances should be taken with a grain of salt, as the Vikings played teams that were either eliminated from playoff contention, on the verge of being eliminated, or resting their starters for a playoff game.
But the late-season spike also signals Smith could be at his best in a short spurt as opposed to going through the grind of the regular season.
Another benefit is that Smith can see how the season plays out before making a decision.
If the Vikings are the 4-8 trainwreck they were through the first 12 games of the 2026 season, Smith can decide to remain in the Smoky Mountains as opposed to putting his body on the line for a team going nowhere.
If Minnesota is in contention, that decision is a lot easier and could convince him to make a bid at an elusive Super Bowl ring.
This also benefits the Vikings. Minnesota’s safeties are a big question mark, but if Smith takes his time, they can see what they have in some of the younger players, including Jay Ward and 2026 third-round pick Jakobe Thomas, instead of having them play behind Smith.
In the end, Leber’s story may reveal the timeline Smith is using for his retirement decision, and it could be a while before Vikings fans see him back on the field.
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