Kevin O'Connell said Monday afternoon that the Vikings are still trying to give Harrison Smith as much space as possible, and that the veteran safety has earned it. The coach said he would probably reach out later in the day after being reminded about Smith, who turned 37 in February and has not been heard from in about 3.5 months.
O'Connell spoke before the 2026 NFL Draft, with Smith’s future still unresolved even after the Vikings and their fans said goodbye to him during a Week 18 win over the Green Bay Packers in January. Smith did not make a formal retirement announcement after the 2025 season, leaving open at least the possibility that Year No. 15 could still happen.
That matters because Smith was still a meaningful part of Minnesota’s defense last season. He missed the first two games after an undisclosed health issue sidelined him in training camp, then played the remaining 15 games and performed fairly well. The Vikings have not had to field a defense without him since Christian Ponder’s rookie season, which is part of why his absence would be such a major break from the recent past.
O'Connell’s tone suggested the organization is prepared to respect Smith’s timeline rather than force a public decision. That has left the team planning in two directions at once: hoping Smith returns for a 15th season, while also preparing for the chance he does not.
The draft could be the next clue. Dillon Thieneman of Oregon and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren of Toledo are among the safeties mentioned as possible Vikings targets on Thursday night, and Minnesota could also look for help at the position in Rounds 2 through 7. If Smith stays away, the need to find a successor only grows more urgent. If he comes back, the Vikings will have bought themselves one more season to answer a question that has been hanging over the franchise since January.
For now, the silence is its own signal. Smith has usually locked in his return by February or March in past years, but this time the calendar has moved into draft week without an answer. O'Connell said enough to show the Vikings are still waiting and not ready to close the door.