Vikings reportedly bring back Harrison Smith for 15th season on 1-year, $12.3 million deal

Harrison Smith will play a 15th season for the Minnesota Vikings.

The veteran safety has agreed to a one-year, $12.25 million deal with a maximum value of $16.25 million with the only organization he has ever played for, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo. Both head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores reportedly pushed for his return.

The Vikings released Smith back in March, a move that seemed to signal the end of his time in Minnesota and possibly professional football at 37 years old. He never announced his retirement though, and is now back a week before the season begins.

Minnesota is scheduled to begin its season on Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers.

Smith’s time with the Vikings goes back to 2012, when the team selected him out of Notre Dame with the 29th overall pick of the NFL Draft. He has made six Pro Bowls since then and was considered one of the best safeties in football during his prime.

That $12.25 million salary will make the 2026 season the third-most lucrative of Smith’s career, per OverTheCap, behind only 2016 ($15.3 million) and 2021 ($14.6 million) in cash paid.