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Minnesota Vikings Legend “Probably Gone” This Year
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- Minnesota Vikings Legend “Probably Gone” This Year
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings are holding their first voluntary offseason workouts today at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, as the coaching staff and front office simultaneously put the final touches on their 2026 NFL Draft prep, prior to Thursday's opening round.
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Not only is Rob Brzezinski trying to prove to the Wilf ownership group that he deserves the full-time GM gig, but even if he isn't part of that plan going forward, this draft will forever go down in MN Vikings lore as "the Rob Brzezinski draft"
And near the top of their list of positional needs this week is at safety, a spot where the organization really doesn't have a concrete plan for the future. Sure, they feel okay about Jay Ward and still have hope for Theo Jackson , but neither player currently projects as a high-end safety down the road.
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That's one reason why O'Connell and Flores have made it extremely clear both publicly and privately to Harrison Smith that they will happily welcome him back for a 15th NFL season , should he decide against retirement this offseason.
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Minnesota Vikings not rushing retirement decision for Smith
On Monday, KOC met with reporters where the head coach revealed he hasn't spoken to Smith "in a few days", but that he'll probably reach out today, after the reminder. It's unlikely, however, that their phone call produces anything worthwhile, in regards to Harry's 2026 football plans.
The Minnesota Vikings aren't worried about the timing of Smith's decision, prior to the draft, because they plan to target safeties early, either way. Thus, KOC said today that he won't even broach the retirement topic when he talks to the future Ring of Honor member when the two talk.
"We're still trying to give Harrison as much space as possible and I think he's earned that." – Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on communication with @HarriSmith22 pic.twitter.com/jKHvAQjXTX
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 20, 2026
"It's been a few days, but now that you remind me, I'll probably bug him today. We're still trying to give Harrison as much space as possible and I think he's earned that. If it's anything at this point, it's seeing how he's doing, how his family is doing, how his golf game is doing — all of those things."
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Harrison Smith with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. In the 14 NFL seasons since, Harry the Hitman has collected 1,180 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 106 passes defensed, 39 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles.
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Vikings insider: Harrison Smith "probably gone"
Now 37 years old, Smith is pondering one more year of football or retirement. And while Kevin O'Connell didn't offer anything tangible in terms of an update on Harry's plans for 2026, Vikings insider Ben Goessling did, in a recent episode of the Star Tribune's "Access Vikings" podcast .
While discussing draft needs with his colleagues, Goessling noted safety as an obvious spot to watch early in the MN Vikings draft, in part because "Harrison Smith is probably gone…."
"This is not in any particular order… Center, I think they take one of those. Safety is a popular target in the first round, with Harrison Smith probably gone. They've got a decision to make on Metellus after this year too — like a $10 million guarantee that they have to make a call on. So, I think safety [is one position to watch early on]."
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