Vikings' Harrison Smith earns NFC Defensive Player of the Week
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith on Wednesday was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following one of the best games of his career in a 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Smith's historic day
By the numbers:
Smith made his 202nd career start in Week 17, contributing three tackles, including two for loss, one sack, one interception and three passes defensed. This performance marks the third time Smith has earned the NFC Player of the Week title.
Vikings locker room reacts after 23-10 win over Lions on Christmas
Vikings players Theo Jackson, Byron Murphy Jr., Jordan Addison, Andrew Van Ginkel, Harrison Smith and Justin Jefferson react from the locker room after Sunday's 23-10 win over the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings have won four straight and are 8-8 with one gam left.
Smith's career achievements
Why you should care:
Smith's sack against the Lions was his first of the season, bringing his career total to 21.5. His interception was his second of the season and the 39th of his career, making him one of only two players in NFL history with at least 39 career interceptions and 21.5 sacks. The other is Ronde Barber.
Will Sunday be Smith's last game?
Dig deeper:
The Vikings close out the season Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium, having already been eliminated from the NFC Playoffs. The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed, and are likely to rest several starters with the game's outcome meaning nothing. The Vikings are seeking their fifth straight win, and a 9-8 finish the season.
Smith has spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Vikings and has been emotional in the locker room after games in recent weeks. He'll be pondering after the season if he'll return in 2026, or could retire.