GLENDALE, ARIZ. – Safety Harrison Smith paused, his eyes welling with tears during a 10-second silence after he was asked to reflect on a 13-year Vikings career that may have ended with Monday night’s 27-9 loss to the Rams in an NFC wild-card playoff game.
Smith was specifically asked about his teammates’ support and how the stoic safety allowed himself to weep immediately after a tough loss.
“I prefer not to have them on camera,” Smith said of the tears he was trying to hold back. “But, um, 44 [Josh Metellus] is a special guy; 24 [Camryn Bynum] and 44. I felt like I have been a mentor, of sorts. Seen them grow into really, really special players, great people. So it’s been a pleasure to be around.”
Smith, a 35-year-old father of two, will once again consider walking away, but that consideration will come on his own time. He said there’s no current plan to retire. He acknowledged this offseason won’t be the same as last offseason, when he also pondered retirement before agreeing to a restructured contract in March.
“My life’s different,” Smith said. “I’m older.”
Smith missed only one start this season, the Dec. 22 victory in Seattle, because of a foot injury. He played through a hip injury early in the season. But he also played in his 200th Vikings game (regular and postseason) on Monday night, and the toll of over 12,000 defensive snaps in his career has left its marks.
The shoulder that troubled Smith at the end of the 2023 season isn’t an issue, but Smith said nothing’s clear about injuries at this point.
“My shoulders are good, actually,” Smith said. “The funny thing about the season, no matter when it is, your body lies to you. Tells you they’re better than they are. So, um, it’ll settle in the next week or so, figure out what really hurts.”