The Hitman returns!
The longest-tenured member of the Minnesota Vikings is coming back for one more go-around.
Numerous sources on social media are reporting that the Vikings and safety Harrison Smith have agreed to a new deal for the safety that will bring him back for a fourteenth season in purple. The team needed to get a new deal done before the third day of the new league year on Friday in order to prevent Smith’s entire 2026 salary. . .which would have been well north of $20 million. . .from becoming fully guaranteed.
UPDATE: According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the deal is a one-year deal worth $10.25 million and can be worth up to $14 million with incentives.
Smith has been with the Vikings since he was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, spending his first thirteen seasons in purple. He certainly has a Hall of Fame resume, as this past season he became one of just seven players in the history of the league to register at least 30 career interceptions and at least 20 career quarterback sacks. Five of the other six players who have accomplished that feat are in Canton, and if there’s any justice Harrison Smith will join them one day.
Smith’s return becomes more important with the departure of Camryn Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. He’ll now be part of a safety room that appears to have a bigger role in mind for Theo Jackson and could also start using Joshua Metellus as more of a pure safety with Bynum’s departure.
A lot of Vikings fans are going to be happy tonight, as Harrison Smith is coming back for (at least) one more season with the Minnesota Vikings