Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings
Harrison Smith Faces $45K Fine for Helmet Infraction in Playoff Game
The Minnesota Vikings’ wild card run came to an abrupt halt last Monday night in Los Angeles, and now safety Harrison Smith faces a hefty $45,020 fine for an “impermissible use of the helmet” on a hit against Rams tight end Tyler Higbee.
The play in question occurred during the first quarter when Smith made contact with Higbee’s helmet after a reception. Despite no flag being thrown on the field, the NFL’s officiating office reviewed the play and determined the hit warranted a fine. This marks the most significant fine handed out to a Vikings player this season.
Here’s a breakdown of other fines the Vikings have received this year:
- $45,020: Harrison Smith, impermissible use of the helmet, playoffs
- $11,255: Byron Murphy Jr., taunting, Week 16
- $15,167: Jerry Tillery, hit on defenseless player, Week 13
- $6,544: Cam Akers, impermissible use of the helmet, Week 10
- $11,255: Blake Cashman, face mask, Week 10
- $11,255: Cam Robinson, late hit, Week 10
- $11,817: Aaron Jones, low block, Week 8
- $5,120: Ivan Pace Jr., face mask, Week 8
- $9,667: Jihad Ward, late hit, Week 2
https://twitter.com/i/status/1881022969973252184
For Smith, who had a cap hit of around $6.5 million in 2024 and has earned close to $100 million throughout his illustrious 13-year career, the fine may seem like a drop in the bucket. However, losing $45K is still no easy pill to swallow.
Smith, the longest-tenured Viking and one of the oldest defensive players in the league, is contemplating his future once again. After a bitter end to the season, the decision to retire or return for a 14th season looms large. The 2012 first-round pick and potential Hall of Famer has been a cornerstone of the Vikings defense, and his leadership in the secondary will be hard to replace.
As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Smith continues to patrol the Vikings’ secondary or decides to hang up his cleats for good. Either way, the legacy he’s built is one of the strongest in Minnesota football history.
