This May Be Hitman’s Last Ride

On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings square off against the Green Bay Packers in what stands as a meaningless contest for Kevin O’Connell’s team. They have been eliminated from the playoffs, and it sounds as though Matt LaFleur won’t be playing many of his starters. It is important for Harrison Smith, though.

Week 18 feels less about standings and more about appreciating a player who has defined Minnesota’s defense for over a decade.

The 29th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Smith will be playing in his 207th regular season game. It will be his 15th game of the season, and his durability has held up despite now being 36 years old. The past couple of weeks have been some of his best performances of the year, and it would be great to see him go out on top.

A Finale That Feels Different for Harrison Smith

Right now, there’s no denying Smith would love to have a more well-positioned team. Even a 9-8 record means nothing when missing the playoffs. Smith has never played in a Super Bowl, and his 14 years in the NFL have yielded just two playoff wins.

However, there’s no denying that Smith should waltz into Canton. He’s been an elite player at a demanding position for more than a decade. While he has not yet announced what his future holds, it’s hard not to envision him trending toward retirement.

Smith was emotional on Thursday while reflecting, and that should only hit harder on Sunday. He will still take time to figure out what’s next, but fans shouldn’t overlook the possibility that this is truly Hitman’s last ride.

This offseason, Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings may try to talk Smith into one more year. That wouldn’t be the worst idea, given how he has finished the season. The safety position will also look relatively depleted without him. Until that happens, though, taking anything for granted would be foolish.

Although it would be great if Smith could play in a more meaningful game to end it, one last victory over a division rival probably isn’t the worst thing either.