EAGAN, Minn. — Harrison Smith knows a thing or two about feasting like a king against the Lions.
In the wake of his ferocity, which aided Minnesota in shredding what was left of Detroit's playoff life in Week 17 on Christmas Day, the safety was named Wednesday as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Smith had three tackles, including two for a loss, an interception and sack, and three pass breakups in the 23-10 win that evened the Vikings record to 8-8 after they were four games under .500 a month ago.
Recognized for the first time in eight years, Smith, 36, is the oldest player in the NFL and the fourth different Viking in 2025 to take home conference honors, following DL Levi Drake Rodriguez in Week 9 (special teams), CB Isaiah Rodgers in Week 3 (defensive) and QB J.J. McCarthy in the opener (offensive).
"I thought he played fantastic," Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores said Tuesday. "Now, there's a couple plays that he and I both know that I wish he had back, and he wishes he had back, but that's the game."
Flores liked watching Smith run around and knock passes down, contributing to the team's first effort with six-plus takeaways since Week 15 in 2019 at the Chargers. Flores singled out Smith's interception — a play that elicited a smirk from Smith afterward — as one that was reviewed and talked about as a staff.
Smith's third-quarter pick elevated his count in 26 career games facing Detroit to five, tied with his handful against Chicago for his second most versus one opponent (he's nabbed six against Green Bay). Also, it was Smith's second pick of Jared Goff; he intercepted him on an overthrow in Week 18 last season.
Smith's inaugural sack this year (21.5 in his career) increased his QB pressure amount to 13, the fifth most among NFL defensive backs this year, per Next Gen Stats. And his all-around impact resulted in Detroit totaling its third-fewest yards in a loss (231) since Dan Campbell and Goff coupled up in 2021.
Flores empathized with Smith displaying rare emotion during a curtain call at the final 2-minute warning.
"This game brings that out of you, it does," said Flores, who has formed an impressive coach-player dynamic with "The Hitman" over 47 games and counting. "Harrison Smith's one of the best players I've ever been around. He's one of the smartest players I've ever been around. I've been around a few — some really good ones. And he's brought so much to this organization. He plays the game the right way.
"And to a purist of the game, someone who loves every facet of it, I just think he's one of the best that I've been around," Flores added. "I'm happy for him. I'm excited for him. If I stood up here long enough, I'd probably get emotional, too. But I try not to let anyone see that. He's one of the best players I've been around, the best people I've been around. I'm excited to kind of finish the season with him on Sunday."
Smith has received three career Player of the Week accolades now. He won the award twice in a three-game span between the 2017 and 2018 regular seasons, collecting the recognition in Week 16 in 2017 and Week 1 in 2018. Smith produced two interceptions with eight tackles in the former game, a 16-0 shutout of Green Bay on a Saturday night at Lambeau Field, and he logged one sack and an interception, along with seven tackles in the latter to help start that year with a 24-16 home win over San Francisco.
Smith's 39 career picks are tops among active players, and so are his 510 return yards off interceptions.
If he snatches another in the season finale against the Packers, he'll become the fourth player in history in the 40 (INT)-20 (sack) club; its charter members are Charles Woodson, Ronde Barber and Larry Wilson.
View locker room celebration photos from the Vikings 23-10 win over the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium during the Christmas Day Winter Whiteout matchup.
Discover more about Smith's game on Christmas and his effect on the defense's recent excellence here.
18 NFC Players of the Week under O'Connell in 67 games
2025 Week 17 against Detroit: Harrison Smith, S (Defensive)
2025 Week 9 at Detroit: Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL (Special Teams)
2025 Week 3 vs. Cincinnati: Isaiah Rodgers, CB (Defensive)
2025 Week 1 at Chicago: J.J. McCarthy, QB (Offensive)
2024 Week 16 at Seattle: Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Defensive)
2024 Week 14 vs. Atlanta: Sam Darnold, QB (Offensive)
2024 Week 3 vs. Houston: Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Defensive)
2023 Week 14 at Las Vegas: Ivan Pace, Jr., LB (Defensive)
2023 Week 9 at Atlanta: Joshua Dobbs, QB (Offensive)
2023 Week 7 vs. San Francisco: Camryn Bynum, S (Defensive)
2023 Week 6 at Chicago: Jordan Hicks, LB (Defensive)
2022 Week 16 vs. New York Giants: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
2022 Week 15 vs. Indianapolis: Kirk Cousins, QB (Offensive)
2022 Week 12 vs. New England: Kene Nwangwu, RB/KR (Special Teams)
2022 Week 10 at Buffalo: Justin Jefferson, WR (Offensive)
2022 Week 8 vs. Arizona: Za'Darius Smith, OLB (Defensive)
2022 Week 6 at Miami: Ryan Wright, P (Special Teams)
2022 Week 4 vs. New Orleans in London: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
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