Over the course of 14 seasons, Harrison Smith has been a mainstay in the Minnesota Vikings' defensive backfield.
After an offseason and preseason of indecision, the safety has chosen to play at least one more year.
The six-time Pro Bowler signed back with Minnesota, the team announced Saturday. The one-year contract is worth $12.25 million with a max value of $16.25 million with playoff incentives, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported, per sources.
Smith's future in Minnesota and the NFL had been in flux since he was designated as a post-June 1 release on March 11. The cut amounted to a procedural move as the team still left the door open for his return.
Now, Smith has returned, with just eight days until Minnesota's season opener against Green Bay.
The safety joins Kyle Van Noy as a late-arriving veteran defender to Brian Flores' defense. Van Noy signed with the Vikings practice squad earlier this week.
Smith has been a versatile standout for the Vikings, going to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015-19. He's played 207 career games, all for Minnesota, with 203 starts, 1,180 tackles, 39 interceptions (four returned for touchdowns), 106 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and 21.5 sacks.
He is tops on the Vikings' all-time list in pick-sixes and passes defensed, fourth in interceptions and fifth in games played.
In 2026, the 37-year-old Hitman will anchor a defensive backfield led by fellow safety Josh Metellus and starting cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers.
Smith and Minnesota will host the rival Packers on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
