Harrison Smith Opens Up About Reaching 200 Games: ‘I’m Proud, But the Job’s Not Done’
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is poised to join an illustrious group during Week 11’s matchup with the Chicago Bears.
A 14-year NFL veteran, Smith is set to play in his 200th career game on Sunday at home, the team announced on Thursday, November 13. After missing the first two games of the season due to a personal health issue, Smith will become the sixth Vikings player to reach the landmark number, joining the late Jim Marshall, Mick Tinglehoff, Fred Cox, Carl Eller and Scott Studwell.
𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟮
.@harrismith22 is set to play in his 200th career game on Sunday. He will become the sixth player to reach 200 career games with the Vikings, joining Jim Marshall, Mick Tinglehoff, Fred Cox, Carl Eller and Scott Studwell.
Smith’s 200th career game is a testament to not only his sustained success over 14 seasons in the NFL but also his health and love for the game. Smith has played 13 or more games for 12 of the past 13 seasons.
Smith is the NFL’s active leader in interceptions with 37 picks in his career. This season is likely Smith’s final season as a player, with his contract set to expire next year.
How Does Harrison Smith Rank All-Time? Breaking Down the Vikings Star’s Hall of Fame Bid
Smith has had one of the most impressive runs at the safety position in NFL history, but the bar to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame is daunting, even with his resume.
The hall of fame has a backlog of incredible talents who may never get the recognition they deserve due to the weight championships play in the selection.
Smith has the personal accolades.
“He has more sacks and interceptions than Hall of Famers John Lynch and Troy Polamalu. He has six Pro Bowls, which is more than Hall of Fame finalist Rodney Harrison, 2023 inductee Ronde Barber, 2022 inductee Leroy Butler,” Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller wrote. “No other active safety has six Pro Bowls and Earl Thomas is the only player who started post 2010 with more (7).”
The analytics show that Smith has made an immense impact on the team for over a decade. However, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has begun to narrow its classes to preserve itself as the highest honor of football.
But that won’t stop many of the game’s greats from advocating for him.
“I think he’s Hall of Fame worthy,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores told Coller. “I don’t want to say ‘cemented’ that but there should be conversation around that whenever he decides to move forward.”
Kevin O’Connell Speaks on Harrison Smith’s Impact on Vikings
To date, Smith has 1,157 combined tackles,43 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 99 passes defensed, 37 interceptions and four pick-sixes.
But beyond the numbers, Smith has made an impact with his character on the Vikings’ organization.
“Harrison Smith is one of my all-time favorite players I’ve had the chance to be around as a coach,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said in 2024. “I feel very fortunate to have been in the head coach position with a guy like Harrison that I can build a relationship with, such experience, such an incredible presence within our locker room. He’s got a great way about him at all times that makes people around him better. I think he’s been huge in the implementation of our defense this year with Flo [Brian Flores] and D.J. [Daronte Jones] and those guys on that side of the ball. I’ve been really happy with the way Harrison has really attacked his role within the defense, but also the value of him as a captain and a leader of our team. I just can’t say enough about what he’s meant to me, what he’s meant to this organization.”
Buccaneers $90 Million OT Reveals Actual Extent of Injuries
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans knew right offensive tackle Luke Goedeke would eventually return this season, what they didn’t know for sure was
One thing no one knew about Goedeke was the actual extent of his injuries — it was always just characterized as a “foot” injury — but the man himself tuned everyone in to exactly how bad it was during Thursday’s media session.
“Bucs RT Luke Goedeke said he tore his plantar fascia and had a contusion to recover from since Week 2,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on November 13. “He is thrilled to be back.”
Now, with Goedeke finally back in the lineup fir a Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots, it’s only going to get better for both Goedeke and Tampa Bay’s offense the more he’s in the lineup. He gets another chance when the NFC South first place Buccaneers travel to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, where Goedeke will get to square off with edge rusher Joey Bosa.
The Patriots game was the first tine this season the Buccaneers had their high priced offensive tackles together — left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs missed the first 3 games as he recovered from preseason knee surgery.
“I came in day in and day out (to rehab) to try and get back as soon as possible,” Goedeke said in a video posted to X by Pewter Report. “I wasn’t the most pleasant at times to be around … football is what my life revolves around. I make sacrifices training in the offseason to be in the very best physical shape I can be in, so to have that taken away from you is very frustrating.”
Rushing Attack Got Immediate Boost From Return
The Buccaneers have been missing large chunks of their offense all season. That’s meant little familiarity and little getting a feel for each other, because it’s always different people in the lineup.
The Buccaneers saw an immediate uptick in their run game against the Patriots with Goedeke back in the lineup and rushed for 113 yards — their highest total since running for 122 yards in a Week 3 win over the New York Jets.
“Luke Goedeke immediately shuts down the notion that he’s the only reason the run game bounced back,” Bucs Gameday’s River Wells posted on X on November 13. “He says all 11 players did good work to get the run game going against the Patriots.”
Buccaneers Spent Big on Goedeke in Offseason
This offseason, for the second year in a row, the Buccaneers delivered a massive payday to one of their elite offensive linemen.
“The #Bucs have agreed to terms with their standout OT Luke Goedeke, as he gets a 4-year, $90M deal — $22.5M APY — that includes $50M guaranteed,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on September 2. “Tampa Bay locks up another key O-lineman.”
Tampa Bay signed NFL All-Pro left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs to a 4-year, $140.6 million contract extension in August 2024, which remains the largest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history.
