There’s No Holding Back Harrison Smith

After Harrison Smith reworked his deal to return to the Minnesota Vikings for a 13th season, Anthony Barr decided to have fun at his former teammate’s expense.

“The year is 2058,” he posted on Instagram. “Harrison is entering his 46th season as a Viking. Asked why he continues to play, he smiles and replies, ‘F– you.’

“The legend continues.”

Smith is 35 and still an impact player in Brian Flores’ system. He’ll be 69 in 2058, likely in Minnesota’s Ring Of Honor and the Hall of Fame. By then, he will likely only stand on the field to have the Vikings celebrate him at halftime.

But Smith can still play in 2024. He was on the field for 96% of Minnesota’s snaps in their 28-6 Week 1 win over the New York Giants.

“I came out when the game was over,” he said. “I'm trying to play ball.”

Smith laughed as he finished his sentence.

“I feel good out there,” he exclaimed. “I don't work out for nothing.”

He laughed again.

At the owner’s meetings in March, Kevin O’Connell told the media that he planned to manage Smith’s workload. Smith had played 1,113 defensive snaps at age 34 last year, and O’Connell wanted to keep Smith in peak condition throughout the 17-game season.

“We're not going to be able to play him as much as we did,” O’Connell said plainly.

O’Connell has a good relationship with Smith. During joint practices with the Cleveland Browns, the 39-year-old coach told KFAN’s Paul Allen, in jest, that Smith was always in his office because he wanted to talk to someone his age. However, O’Connell’s efforts to manage Smith’s snaps are well-intentioned but futile.

“A thousand snaps sounds about right to me,” Brian Flores said before the Giants game. “I'd be very happy with that.”

Flores also enjoys Smith’s company and speaks highly of Camryn Bynum and Minnesota’s other safeties. But he knows that if Smith is on the sidelines, he won’t be able to make a difference on the field.

“He's one of those guys who’s hard to take off,” Flores admits. “If he's standing by me, I don't really feel good about that. Maybe that's the play where he goes in there and makes the game-changing play.

“It's hard to get him out. That's something I probably got to do a better job of as far as personally saying, ‘Why isn't he in there?’”

Flores knows O’Connell’s intentions with Smith. However, he will sneak Smith onto the field if he must.

“There's a plan to maybe get him out of there a series or two,” Flores acknowledged. “But that same plan was in last year, and I kind of overrode all of that.”

Who’s to blame Flores? Smith had seven tackles and reeled in his 35th career interception on Sunday. He’s a player Flores trusts and commands Minnesota’s defense. Smith is three years removed from his last Pro Bowl, but he’s still an impact player. For all we know, he’s still got many years ahead of him.

The year 2058 is still a long way away. We may all be long gone, but Smith might still be pinning his ears back on third-and-long.