Harrison Smith gets defensive player of week honor

Eden Prairie, MN (December 27, 2017) – Vikings S Harrison Smith has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Green Bay last week. Smith tallied his first career multi-interception game, picking off Brett Hundley twice to push his season total to five, tying his career high. The Knoxville, Tennessee native also tallied seven total tackles (five solo), two pass breakups, one tackle for loss and one quarterback pressure according to the Vikings coaches stats. He was the driving force behind the Vikings first shutout since December 5, 1993 (at Detroit) and their first shutout of the Packers at Lambeau Field ever. Smith is now the only player in the NFL with at least 70 tackles, five interceptions and one sack.

Harrison Smith

The NFC Player of the Week award is the first of Smith’s career. It marks the third player of the week honor on the year for the team (Sam Bradford, Week 1; Kai Forbath, Week 7) with Everson Griffen also claiming the October Defensive Player of the Month award and Case Keenum earning the November Offensive Player of the Month award.

Photo by Robin Alam

VIKINGS TO BE NAMED NFC PLAYER OF THE WEEK UNDER ZIMMERDefensiveAnthony Barr, LB2014, Week 8, at Tampa BaySpecial TeamsAdam Thielen, WR2014, Week 13, vs. CarolinaSpecial TeamsMarcus Sherels, PR2015, Week 8, at ChicagoDefensiveLinval Joseph, DT2015, Week 9, vs. St. LouisDefensiveTerence Newman, CB2015, Week 10, at OaklandSpecial TeamsBlair Walsh, K2015, Week 16, vs. NY GiantsDefensiveEverson Griffen, DE2015,Week 17, at Green BayDefensiveEric Kendricks, LB2016, Week 1, at TennesseeOffensiveStefon Diggs, WR2016, Week 2, vs. Green BayDefensiveEverson Griffen, DE2016, Week 3, at CarolinaDefenseXavier Rhodes, CB2016, Week 11, vs. ArizonaOffense

Special TeamsSam Bradford, QB

Kai Forbath, K2017, Week 1, vs. New Orleans

2017, Week 7, vs. BaltimoreDefenseHarrison Smith, S2017, Week 16, at Green Bay