Vikings’ Most Likely 2026 Retirees
The Vikings currently employ a select few players who have increasing odds to retire in the next few seasons, and 2026 could be it for at least one of them. I don’t want to wish anyone into retirement, obviously; if it were up to me, these guys would be immortal and never feel fatigue, allowing them to be Minnesota Vikings literally forever.
Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world because the Green Bay Packers exist. Here’s the most likely current Vikings to retire after the conclusion of the 2025-2026 NFL season.
S Harrison Smith
Feels like we’ve done this a million times already, but 2025 probably really will be it for the Hitman. Harrison will be returning to the Vikings this season for Year 14 at age 36, spending every year of his professional career with these Vikings since they made him the 29th overall selection of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Harrison Smith has appeared in 192 games and racked up 1,126 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 96 passes defended, 37 interceptions (active NFL career leader), and four defensive TDs. His resume is highlighted by a PFWA All-Rookie Team Nomination in 2012, an All-Pro First Team in 2017, an All-Pro Second-Team in 2018, and 6 Pro Bowl appearances.
Most importantly to us, he has proven his loyalty to the Minnesota Vikings franchise time and time again, most notably taking millions of dollars worth of pay-cuts over the last two seasons to remain on the ship. Now check out this sick 56-minute Harrison Smith highlight reel that the NFL put out last month.
LS Andrew DePaola
It feels like Andrew DePaola has been a Minnesota Viking for about 12 or 13 years now, but in reality, 2025 will only be DePaola’s 6th season with the team. He spent his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted and working as a bartender before they came calling, and he also spent time in 2017 with the Bears, 2018 with the Raiders (he tore his ACL during Week 1), and in 2019, he spent the summer with the Carolina Panthers and was released during final roster cuts.
DePaola didn’t have an NFL job in 2019, and it remained that way even after a tryout with the Houston Texans in August of 2020 came and went to no avail. A couple of months later, in November of that year, the Vikings would sign him to the practice squad, and he has been a member of the main active roster since December 2nd of that year.
Since he came to Minnesota, DePaola has attended three Pro Bowls, is a two-time All-Pro First-Teamer (2022, 2024), and was also a 2023 All-Pro Second-Teamer. He turns 38 on July 28th.
FB C.J. Ham
This one is more of just a feeling than anything, but I can see it happening.
C.J. Ham’s contract with the Vikings is over after the 2025 NFL season, and I’d be shocked if Minnesota handed him another extension, seeing as he is more of a glue guy than anything and isn’t really utilized to his strengths on the football field. That is, unless the Vikings really find a footing in the run game, and the fullback is a big part of it.
Ham is a Minnesota native, hailing from Duluth. I’m not too sure he would want to play anywhere else other than home, and if no extension is offered from the Vikings, it seems completely within the realm of possibility that Ham hangs up the cleats and stays around the Vikings’ facilities as some sort of assistant or advisor and focuses more on his philanthropy off-field.
Predicting Vikings Madden NFL 26 Ratings: Offensive Line Edition
