BREAKING: Packers’ Division Rival Expected To Lose Star To Retirement (Breaking)

   

Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is shown before their game Sunday, December 29, 2024 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25.© Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers expected to compete for the NFC North in 2024, and that they did.  What they didn’t expect is both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings to record 14+ wins.  The NFC North became one of the toughest divisions in football in 2024.

However, now one of Green Bay’s rivals is expected to lose one of their cornerstone players.

Packers’ Division Rival Expected To Lose Star To Retirement (Breaking)

Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

It is inevitable that all good things must come to an end. The end of Harrison Smith’s career has been discussed for the past few seasons. He could now ride off into the sunset after the Minnesota Vikings have excelled this season:

Harrison Smith was the 29th overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, which makes this his 13th year in the NFL. It appears that it will also be his last and Kevin O’Connell will need to deal with the defensive turnover. Local insider Charley Walters provided an update on the situation.

“It’s clear the Vikings will re-sign cornerback Byron Murphy, who has six interceptions this season, and probably safety Cam Bynum, because it’s unlikely Harrison Smith, who turns 36 next month after 13 seasons, will return.”

Charley Walters on the Vikings secondary (Pioneer Press)

Smith has played in 192 regular season games. He has racked up 1,126 total tackles, has 37 interceptions, and 20.5 career interceptions. The six-time Pro Bowl selection, and one-time All-Pro is likely to be a strong candidate for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) reaches for a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) reaches for a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Here is a look at Smith’s career stats:

  Def Interceptions Fumbles   Tackles  
Date Team   Opp Result Int Yds IntTD Lng PD FF Fmb FR Yds FRTD Sk Comb Solo Ast TFL QBHits Sfty
2025-01-13 MIN @ LAR L 9-27 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 9 3 6 0 1  
2025-01-05 MIN @ DET L 9-31 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 4 3 1 0 0  
2024-12-29 MIN   GNB W 27-25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 4 2 2 0 0  
2024-12-16 MIN   CHI W 30-12 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 3 3 0 0 0  
2024-12-08 MIN   ATL W 42-21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 5 3 2 1 0  
2024-12-01 MIN   ARI W 23-22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 7 4 3 0 0  
2024-11-24 MIN @ CHI W 30-27 (OT) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 11 9 2 0 0  
2024-11-17 MIN @ TEN W 23-13 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 3 3 0 0 0  
2024-11-10 MIN @ JAX W 12-7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 1 0 1 0 0  
2024-11-03 MIN   IND W 21-13 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 4 2 2 0 0  
2024-10-24 MIN @ LAR L 20-30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 8 6 2 1 0  
2024-10-20 MIN   DET L 29-31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 7 2 5 0 0  
2024-10-06 MIN   NYJ W 23-17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 6 5 1 1 1  
2024-09-29 MIN @ GNB W 31-29 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 5 4 1 0 0  
2024-09-22 MIN   HOU W 34-7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 7 4 3 0 0  
2024-09-15 MIN   SFO W 23-17 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 5 3 2 0 0  
2024-09-08 MIN @ NYG W 28-6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 7 3 4 0 0  
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) breaks up the pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) breaks up the pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images