MINNEAPOLIS — His retirement can't come soon enough for opposing quarterbacks.

Nearly two months after opting to return for his 15^th NFL season, Vikings safety Harrison Smith picked his 40^th career interception in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against Indianapolis. It was an iconic moment for "The Hitman" in his 213^th regular-season contest.

Smith sniffed out a pass between the right hashes and numbers and stepped in front of it with 1:15 left to ice the Vikings 16-10 victory, which moved the team to 6-0. He returned it 15 yards to the Colts 44, then ran to Minnesota's 40 and emphatically planted the football.

Soon after, U.S. Bank Stadium erupted in a chant: "HAR-RY! HAR-RY!"

"It was nothing exceptional," Smith stated about his pick with typical nonchalance.

"I was talking to Richard Sherman this week actually about getting interceptions," Smith continued. "He had a lot (37), and I have a lot, and we both were like 'They don't come around when you chase them. You just do your job, the opportunities will present themselves,' and then you gotta be a ballplayer and make the play and that was pretty much what happened there."

The interception, which is Smith's first in five matchups against the Colts and his 20^th playing at home, bumped him into a tie with Ed Sharockman for third place in Vikings annals. Only Hall of Famer Paul Krause (53), who also wore No. 22, and Ring of Honor cornerback Bobby Bryant (51) logged more. Krause is the all-time NFL leader with 81.

Smith's pick also gained him entry into the prestigious 40/20 fraternity. He's the fourth person in history to meet the criteria of 40-plus career interceptions and 20-plus sacks, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame DBs Ronde Barber, Larry Wilson and Charles Woodson.

The pursuit of 40 was on Smith's mind when he decided to come back. Especially after an encounter with Barber in June at the Falmouth Country Club located near Portland, Maine.

"I'd be lying if it didn't play anything into it," Smith explained. "That wasn't like the main factor, but I ran into Ronde Barber this offseason playing some golf."

During a football conversation with Barber over beers, "You could tell he still like, he loved it (playing football). … He's like, 'What are you doing here, playing golf? Go get it.' "

Smith quipped, "That was the start of me being like, 'I'm definitely going to stay in shape.' "

It was Smith's second time intercepting Daniel Jones. He stole one in the end zone at MetLife Stadium in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's Week 1 win over the Giants in 2024.

Smith is now tied for 78^th on the league's interception chart, and he increased his edge among active players to four ahead of Kevin Byard III, who is on the Patriots in his 11^th year.

On the season, Smith has played about half of Minnesota's defensive snaps and boasts 11 tackles and four passes defended. He also tallied a half-sack with Dallas Turner on Sunday.

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