
Harrison Smith
S
#22
Experience: 14 years
Height: 6-2
Age: 36
Weight: 211 lbs
College: Notre Dame
2024 SEASON
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Biography
HONORS
- Vikings Rookie of the Year (2012)
- NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 16, 2017)
- Associated Press First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- AP Second-Team All-Pro (2018)
- Pro Football Writers of America First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- PFWA All-NFL & All-NFC (2017)
- PFWA All-Rookie (2012)
- Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie (2012)
- Sporting News First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- Pro Bowl (6x - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- Minnesota Football Honors Vikings Defensive Player of the Year (2x - 2017, 2020)
CAREER NOTES
- Selected 29th overall in 2012 by the Vikings.
- Became just the third Notre Dame player and third defensive back chosen by the Vikings in the first round in team history.
- Signed contract extension in 2016 and in 2021 offseason.
- Has more sacks (19.5) than any other defensive back in franchise history.
- Has four career interception return TDs, a Vikings franchise record.
- Tied Vikings rookie record with two interception return TDs on the season and was one shy of the team record for a season.
- Became first Vikings rookie safety to start all 16 games.
- Since entering the league in 2012, Smith has recorded 34 interceptions, tied with CB Patrick Peterson for the most in the NFL during that span.
HONORS
- Vikings Rookie of the Year (2012)
- NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 16, 2017)
- Associated Press First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- AP Second-Team All-Pro (2018)
- Pro Football Writers of America First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- PFWA All-NFL & All-NFC (2017)
- PFWA All-Rookie (2012)
- Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie (2012)
- Sporting News First-Team All-Pro (2017)
- Pro Bowl (6x - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- Minnesota Football Honors Vikings Defensive Player of the Year (2x - 2017, 2020)
CAREER NOTES
- Selected 29th overall in 2012 by the Vikings.
- Became just the third Notre Dame player and third defensive back chosen by the Vikings in the first round in team history.
- Signed contract extension in 2016 and in 2021 offseason.
- Has more sacks (19.5) than any other defensive back in franchise history.
- Has four career interception return TDs, a Vikings franchise record.
- Tied Vikings rookie record with two interception return TDs on the season and was one shy of the team record for a season.
- Became first Vikings rookie safety to start all 16 games.
- Since entering the league in 2012, Smith has recorded 34 interceptions, tied with CB Patrick Peterson for the most in the NFL during that span.
2023 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Named team captain for the 2023 season for the fouth time in his career.
- Started each of the Vikings 17 games, recording 93 tackles, including two for loss, three sacks, three passes defensed and a trio of forced fumbles.
- One of 23 players in the NFL, and one of four DBs (Richie Grant, Justin Reid and Antoine Winfield Jr.; son of Smith's former teammate Antoine Winfield Sr.), to boast a stat line of at least 90 total tackles and 3.0 sacks during the 2023 season.
- Started his 175th career game in Week 18 at Detroit, the ninth-most starts by a Viking all-time, the third most among defensive players in team history and the most by a Vikings DB.
- Played in his 172nd-career game in Week 14 at Las Vegas (12/10), the most games played by a Vikings DB in franchise history, surpassing S Paul Krause (1968-79).
- Tied for the second-most tackles among Viking defenders with five in Week 10 against New Orleans (11/12).
- Logged six tackles in both Week 8 at Green Bay (10/29) and Week 9 at Atlanta (11/5).
- Against the 49ers in Week 7, had six total tackles, one pass defensed and forced his third fumble this season. His three forced fumbles through the first seven games of 2023 tied his career high for forced fumbles in a single season (2019).
- Totaled a team-leading 14 tackles (eight solo), 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble against the Panthers in Week 4, including the fourth strip sack of his career, which was returned for a touchdown.
- Became the first player in NFL history since at least 1994 to record 14 tackles, 3.0 sacks and force a fumble in a game.
- Had four tackles and forced the 10th fumble of his career in the Week 3 matchup with Los Angeles.
- One of three Vikings defenders to play each of the team's 77 defensive snaps against the Eagles (9/14).
- Combined for six tackles in Philadelphia.
- Started the season opener against Tampa Bay (9/10), recording four total tackles.
2022 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Intercepted QB Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, marking Smith's second career interception of Rodgers. The other came in 2012 as a rookie on Dec. 2, 2012. Smith has now recorded 29 career interceptions. He finished the game with seven total tackles (five solo) and one pass defensed.
- Tied his career-high in tackles (13) in Week 2 at Philadelphia
- Played in his 150th career game in Week 6 at Miami and picked off Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater for his 31st career interception, the most among active safeties in the NFL. He is now tied with Nate Wright for the fifth-most in franchise history. Smith has also now recorded at least one INT in two consecutive matchups against the Dolphins.
- Started his 150th career game against the Cardinals and recorded six tackles, one interception and one pass defensed, tying Paul Krause for most starts by a Vikings safety. It also tied Krause and John Randle for 14th in overall career starts in franchise history.
- Started in his 151st game, setting the franchise record for career starts by a Vikings safety, passing Paul Krause (150). Smith finished the game with four total tackles (two solo) and an interception. He has now recorded one interception in each of the teams last three games, marking the first time in his career where he has recorded three games in a row with at least one INT.
- Picked off QB Mike White for his 34th career interception in Week 13 against the Jets, marking his fifth on the season and tying his single-season high. Smith now leads all active players in the NFL in interceptions and ranks fifth in franchise history. He finished the game with eight total tackles (six solo), three passes defensed and one interception, marking the first time in his career he has posted this stat line.
2021 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Started season opener at Cincinnati (9/12) and had a sack.
- Posted nine tackles at Arizona (9/19) and eight tackles against Seattle (9/26), which ranked as the second-most on the team in both games.
- Recorded his second consecutive eight-tackle game against the Browns (10/3).
- Led the team in tackles with nine against the Lions (10/10), Panthers (10/17) and Cowboys (10/31).
- Missed the last two games on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
- Sacked Aaron Rodgers and extended his franchise record for sacks among DBs to 15.5. (11/21)
- Notched his 29th career interception against the 49ers (11/28), tying Carl Lee for sixth all-time in Vikings history.
- Tied his single-season career high in sacks (3.0) with a takedown of Ben Roethlisberger against the Steelers (12/9), pushing his franchise record of sacks by a DB to 16.5.
- Eclipsed the 100 tackle mark against the Rams (12/26) for just the fourth time in his career, his first since 2016.
2020 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Started all 16 games for the 5th time in his career.
- Capped season by leading team with 9 tackles and grabbing 5th INT of the season at Detroit (1/3/21), the 28th of his career.
- Had 3rd INT of 2020 on Monday Night Football at Chicago (11/16).
- Snared 1st INT of the season vs. Tennessee (9/27) and grabbed 2nd INT of season vs. Detroit (11/8).
- Started season-opener vs. Green Bay (9/13), his 9th straight Vikings opening-day start.
2019 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Started all 15 games in which he appeared, finishing with 84 tackles and set career-highs with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
- Led the Vikings in Week 1 with nine tackles against Atlanta (9/8), moving into fifth place all-time among Vikings defensive backs with 703 career tackles in what was his 100th career game.
- In his 100th career start, became the first Viking since Antoine Winfield (10/6/08 at New Orleans) to record a pass breakup, forced fumble, fumble recovery and tackle for loss in a game, doing so at Green Bay (9/15) all in the first half.
- Had seven solo tackles at Detroit, topping 500 career solo tackles.
- Led the defense with eight tackles (6 solo) at Kansas City (11/3), while recording his 13th-career sack and one forced fumble.
- Made four total tackles (2 solo) and one qaurterback hit vs. Denver (11/17) before exiting with a hamstring injury.
- Grabbed the 22nd interception of his career vs. Detroit (12/8), moving into a tie for seventh on the franchise interception list.
- Recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass defensed at LA Chargers (12/15), en route to surpassing Antoine Winfield for third-most tackles by a defensive back in franchise history.
- Set career high with his third forced fumble of season vs. Green Bay (12/23).
- Led Minnesota with a postseason career-high 11 tackles (8 solo) in its Wild Card win at New Orleans (1/5/20).
- Had eight tackles in the Divisional game at San Francisco (1/11/20).
2018 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Started all 16 games for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in his career, earning Second-Team Associated Press All-Pro honors and his fourth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.
- Set career highs in solo tackles (75) and tackles for loss (11) and tied career highs in sacks (3.0) and quarterback hurries (10).
- Became the first player since Landon Collins and Ryan Shazier in 2016 to record three interceptions and 3.0 sacks in a single season.
- Became the only player in franchise history with four career interception returns of 50+ yards by intercepting Sam Darnold in Week 7.
- Awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Week vs. San Francisco (9/9), where he became the Vikings career sacks leader by a DB (10.0) when he caught Jimmy Garoppolo in the fourth quarter. Also had eight tackles (7 solo) and a game-sealing interception.
- Recorded his third sack of the season vs. Arizona (10/14), tying his career-high season total set in 2014.
Totaled five tackles (3 solo) one quarterback hurry, two passes defensed and one interception at NY Jets (10/21). Returned his third quarter interception of Sam Darnold 52 yards, the fourth interception return of 50+ yards in his career, a franchise record. - Grabbed his third interception of the year vs. New Orleans (10/28), forcing Drew Brees' first interception of the 2018 season and becoming the 10th Viking with 20+ interceptions.
- Notched seven tackles (6 solo), one pass breakup and two tackles for loss at Detroit (12/23), the only NFL defensive back with three games of at least two tackles for loss in 2018.
- Recorded his 11th tackle for loss of the season vs. Chicago (12/30), setting a new single-season high.
2017 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Started all 16 games for the third time in his career and totaled 93 tackles with a team-high five interceptions, earning AP All-Pro honors, a trip to the Pro Bowl and All-NFL and All-NFC honors by PFWA.
- Became the second defensive back in 2017 to record a sack and an interception in the same game, totaling five tackles (4 solo) 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, one interception and two passes defense vs. Green Bay (10/15).
- Recorded 10 tackles (7 solo), two quarterback hurries, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup vs. Cleveland (10/29) at Twickenham Stadium in London, England, as a part of the NFL's International Series.
- Posted four tackles (2 solo) and a tackle for loss vs. Cincinnati (12/17) to help the Vikings clinch the NFC North title.
- Had a standout performance at Green Bay (12/23) as the Vikings forced their first shutout of the Packers since 1971, totaling seven tackles (6 solo) and two interceptions.
- Made six tackles (4 solo), 1.0 sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry vs. New Orleans (1/14/18) in the Vikings Divisional Round victory.
- Had six solo tackles at Philadelphia (1/21/18) in NFC title game.
2016 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Played through an ankle injury and totaled 104 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 14 games, all starts, to earn his second career Pro Bowl.
- Had nine tackles (6 solo), one tackle for loss and one pass defensed at Tennessee (9/11), the first game in his home state since high school.
- Posted his second double-digit tackle performance of the season, tallying 10 total tackles (9 solo) and his second sack of the year vs. Arizona (11/20).
- Returned from injury at Green Bay (12/24) and registered four solo tackles to surpass 500 tackles in his career.
2015 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Named to Pro Bowl for first time in his career.
- Vikings defense set the tone for NFC North Champions, ranking No. 5 in the NFL in scoring defense and jumping to No. 12 in the NFL in passing defense, No. 13 in total defense.
- Started all 13 regular-season games he played (missing 3 due to injury) and Wild Card Playoff game.
- Notched season-high 11 tackles vs. San Diego (9/27) and season-high eight solos vs. San Diego (9/27) and at Oakland (11/15).
- Sacked Matthew Stafford at Detroit (10/25) and shared sack of Aaron Rodgers at Green Bay (1/3/16) with DT Tom Johnson.
- Set Vikings record by returning his fourth career interception touchdown vs. NY Giants (12/27/15), breaking old mark of three shared by eight players.
2014 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Led the team with a career-high five interceptions, which ranked tied for third in the NFL and tied for second in the NFC.
- His 150 INT return yards was second-best in the NFL.
- Led the team in tackles for the first time in his career.
- Only player in the NFL to have at least three interceptions and 3.0 sacks.
- Helped Vikings pass defense improve from 31st in 2013 to seventh in 2014.
Career-long INT return for a TD Week 1 at St. Louis (9/7) when taking back an Austin Davis pass 81 yards for a TD, ninth-longest interception return in team history.
2013 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Averaged more than eight tackles per game.
- Intercepted multiple passes (2) for the second time in his career, finishing second on the team.
- Snagged first interception of season at Chicago (10/15).
- Suffered injured toe vs. Carolina (10/13) and was placed on Injured Reserve for Recall.
- Missed eight games from injury yet ranked fifth on team in tackles.
2012 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Record-setting season earned All-Rookie Team honors.
- Started all 16 games and Wild Card playoff game.
- Tied Vikings rookie record with two interception return touchdowns and was one shy of overall club record for a season.
- Ranked tied for third in NFL with pair of interception return scores and ranked second among NFL rookies.
- Led all NFL safeties with two interception return touchdowns.
- Ranked second on team with 129 tackles and led team with 87 yards on interception returns and tied team-high with three interceptions.
- Set Vikings record with 16 starts by a rookie safety, passing previous high of 14 by Chuck Lamson in 1962.
- Ranks third in INT return yards by a Vikings rookie.
- Had 10+ tackles in five games on the season and season-high 12 stops at Green Bay (12/2) and at St. Louis (12/16).
COLLEGE - NOTRE DAME
- Started in 47 of his 51 collegiate contests.
- Is the only player in Fighting Irish history to register more than 200+ tackles (309), 15+ tackles for loss (18.5) in a career.
- Was the lone captain of the 2011 Fighting Irish, an honor only bestowed on four players at Notre Dame in the past 40 years
- Made 15 starts at LB before making switch to DB in 2009.
- Started final 38 games.
- Ranks second in ND history with 28 career pass breakups.
- Set school record with three interceptions in a game vs. Miami in Sun Bowl.
PREP - KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC (TENN.)
- Named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee in 2006 at Knoxville Catholic HS.
- Honored as 2006 American General Tennessee Mr. Football Back of the Year after rushing for 1,340 yards and 19 TDs.
- Named 2006 Tennessee Class 3A All-State DB.
- East Tennessee HS Player of the Year in 2007.
- Earned Tennessee Class 3A 1st-Team All-State as a junior.
- Played basketball.
OFF THE FIELD
- Married wife, Madison, in spring 2021. The couple welcomed their first child, Eleanor, in May 2022.
- Hosts annual Kickin' It With Harrison dodgeball event at the team's headquarters that welcomes Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, an organization he supports year-round.
- Hosted the Thielen Foundation Charity Softball Game in May 2023 to help raise money for Thielen Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.
- Earned his pilot's license at a local Minnesota airport, attending classes and lessons during the offseason.
- Flew a 1944 B-25 Mitchell Bomber during a visit to the Fagan Fighters World War II Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota in 2019.
- Graduated with a management-entrepreneurship degree in 2011 and played senior season as a graduate student.
- His grandfather served in the U.S. Navy.
- His cousin, Elaine Hendrix, is an actress and has appeared in such films and shows as Friends, NCIS and The Parent Trap.