With the new league year beginning today, the Vikings are making a number of financial moves. One of them will be a post-June 1 release of safety Harrison Smith, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports. 
Smith’s contract was set to void on Friday, so a decision on this front needed to be made in short order. As Seifert notes, this is not a guarantee Smith will be retiring. Minnesota remains open to retaining the franchise icon on a new deal provided he elects to continue playing.
The Smith release has now taken place, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He confirms, to little surprise, team and player remain in communication with one another at this point. Attention will now turn to the matter of Smith’s intentions. Retirement received consideration last offseason before a one-year pact was agreed to.
Minnesota will see $1.3MM in cap savings with this move. Meanwhile, a dead money charge of $3MM can be spread out across the next two years. That figure is separate from the cost of any potential Smith contract if he chooses to play a 15th season. If not, the Vikings will have a notable vacancy to fill in more respects than one.
Smith has collected six Pro Bowl nods during his decorated career. He is currently fifth in franchise history for games played. A move into third would be possible in the event a new deal is worked out. Losing Smith, 37, to retirement would mark a second straight notable departure for the Vikings (after Camryn Bynum departed in free agency in 2025). Smith handled a snap share of 85% this past season.
The Vikings have already confirmed their defensive line will look much different with the releases of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. New faces in the secondary can also be expected for 2026, especially if Smith does not return.
Father time is undefeated.
One of the best of his generation by far but Minnesota eventually had to move on. Hopefully he sticks around and plays his whole career with the same team like franchise legends should.