Smith, a 2017 Associated Press First-Team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and six-time team captain, returns to Minnesota for his 15th NFL season with the Vikings. In 2025, Smith notched 54 total tackles, including three for loss, 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits, two interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to record 50 tackles for loss and 100 passes defensed while playing at least 200 games, joining Charles Woodson (1998-2015), Brian Dawkins (1996-2011) and Ronde Barber (1997-2012).
Drafted in the first round (29th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Smith has appeared in 207 regular-season games, including 203 starts. His 207 games played are the most by a Vikings defensive back and the fifth most in franchise history across all positions, trailing only Jim Marshall (270 games played), Mick Tingelhoff (240), Fred Cox (210) and Carl Eller (209). Smith’s 203 starts are the third most in team history behind only Marshall (270 starts) and Tingelhoff (240).
Smith has recorded 1,180 total tackles, including 51 for loss, 21.5 sacks, 45 quarterback hits, 39 interceptions, including four returned for touchdowns, 106 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries. His 39 interceptions are the most among active NFL players, and his four career interceptions returned for touchdowns are a team record. With 21.5 sacks and 39 interceptions, Smith joined Barber (28 sacks and 47 interceptions) as the only players in NFL history with at least 38 career interceptions and 21.5 sacks.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Smith was named to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years from 2015-19 and earned the nod for a sixth time following the 2021 season. He was also tabbed AP First-Team All-Pro for his performance in 2017, starting all 16 games he played and tallying 78 total tackles, including seven for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, five interceptions and 12 passes defensed. Smith was voted AP Second-Team All-Pro after the 2018 season, and he was selected as a team captain from 2020-25.
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