Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell teases cryptic Harrison Smith conversations

The Minnesota Vikings have just over two weeks to go until they are set to kick off the new 2026 NFL season. The Vikings recently got some tough news when it was announced that linebacker Jamal Adams would miss the entire upcoming season due to an injury sustained during training camp.

Some have speculated that the move could open up a return for veteran defensive back Harrison Smith, who has yet to sign a new deal with the Vikings after playing out the end of his contract last season.

Now, Kevin Seifert of ESPN has reported that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell “said he spoke with veteran safety Harrison Smith as recently as this week. The Vikings are clearly leaving open the possibility that Smith could play in 2026 rather than retire.”

“I have had some conversations about where he’s at, what he’s thinking,” O’Connell said, “and we’ll keep you guys updated if there is an update on that.”

Vikings fans certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Smith back in uniform this year, especially with the tough update regarding Adams. While he’s no longer the same explosive player that he was in his prime, Smith is still an elite defender with a high football IQ and physical tools to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

The Vikings had a strong defense once again in 2025, but fell short largely thanks to the quarterback position. This year, Minnesota will be starting veteran Kyler Murray ahead of JJ McCarthy, who had a rough first full season at the helm last year. The hope is that the Vikings’ offense will be able to match the production of its defense under Murray’s leadership.

The Vikings will kick off their season on September 13 vs the Green Bay Packers.