Vikings' Harrison Smith, CJ Ham get emotional in speech to teammate as retirement decisions loom

The Minnesota Vikings didn't want their 2025 play to extremity connected Sunday astatine U.S. Bank Stadium, but that's nan communicative of nan portion aft 18 regular-season games resulted successful nary playoff berth this year. 

As a result, 2 squad legends whitethorn person played their last crippled pinch nan statement they've helped turn for complete a decade. 

Safety Harrison Smith and fullback C.J. Ham person some indicated that nan 2025 play could beryllium their last 1 successful nan NFL, and they were rather affectional successful nan locker room aft caput coach Kevin O'Connell gave each of them a crippled ball, signifying really overmuch they meant to everyone successful nan locker room, nan instrumentality guidelines and nan statement arsenic a whole. 

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C.J. Ham of nan Minnesota Vikings looks connected aft defeating nan Green Bay Packers 16-3 astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Jan. 4, 2026 successful Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)

O'Connell listed immoderate accomplishments for each player, starting pinch Ham. 

"Ten seasons, 141 games played, which is nan second-most by a moving backmost aliases fullback successful Minnesota Vikings history," O'Connell said astir Ham successful a video posted by nan Vikings' societal media squad aft nan 16-3 triumph complete nan Green Bay Packers. "Two-time Pro Bowler, two-time [Walter Payton] Man of nan Year, four-time squad skipper and personification who has changed my life, made maine amended successful each facet of my life conscionable being astir him connected a regular basis. I cognize galore of america consciousness nan aforesaid way. When these type of players travel into an organization, man, we’re lucky. We are fortunate to beryllium astir you each day."

Ham made a reside successful beforehand of his teammates, wherever it sounded for illustration he was decidedly fresh to bent his cleats up for bully to attraction connected clip pinch family. 

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"This crippled has meant truthful overmuch to maine my full life," Ham said, while his boy was attached to his leg. "Being capable to beryllium pinch y’all, beryllium pinch this organization, beryllium pinch K.O., you guys, it intends nan absolute world to me. I cognize it’s going to beryllium difficult to measurement away, but I cognize it’s clip to beryllium pinch my family. It’s clip for maine to watch them turn up. Be shot dad. But these years are times that I’m ne'er going to forget. I genuinely emotion each and each 1 of you."

Ham besides shared a beardown connection arsenic not conscionable a teammate, but arsenic a friend and leader. 

"Man, my telephone is ever on. Whatever you request astatine immoderate time, I’m present for you. I mean that from nan bottommost of my heart. I emotion y’all," he added. 

Then, it was clip for Smith. 

"All right, I sewage 14 seasons, 207 games played, which is nan fifth-most successful squad history. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, six-time squad captain," O'Connell stated. "He’s sewage nan fourth-most successful squad history arsenic acold arsenic takeaways goes. You guys cognize what he’s each about. For many, galore years successful this organization, Harrison, you came into this statement and changed it small by little. Didn’t opportunity a full lot, but your activity these past 4 years and your effect connected this statement for your profession is 1 of one, successful my opinion. I judge you’re a Hall of Famer. I cognize for a truth you’re a Hall of Famer successful this organization. I emotion you, man."

C.J. Ham of nan Minnesota Vikings meets his family aft nan crippled against nan Green Bay Packers astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Jan. 4, 2026 successful Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)

Smith has ever been a leader by illustration for nan Vikings, but he was trying difficult not to tear up during his speech. 

"I’m going to support it short for illustration always, but it’s been a pleasure," he began. "I cognize nan twelvemonth didn’t spell really we envisioned, but there’s a batch to build disconnected for illustration coach says. It’s been a hellhole of a ride. I really wish we could support it going, I consciousness for illustration we’re hitting our stride correct now. Just support that going into nan offseason. I mean, arsenic agelong arsenic you sewage aerial successful your lungs and bosom hit successful your chest…never opportunity die."

Smith has been a champion connected nan Vikings’ defense since he was a first-round prime by nan statement successful 2012 retired of Notre Dame. Over 207 games, Smith has tallied 21.5 sacks, 1,180 mixed tackles, 13 forced fumbles and 106 passes defended.

The 36-year-old hasn’t officially made his status announcement, but nan emotion successful his reside aft nan play shows it could beryllium weighing connected him now.

As for Ham, he was an undrafted free supplier who was a rookie minicamp induce successful 2016. He yet signed pinch nan Vikings arsenic conscionable nan 5th subordinate successful Augustana University history to subordinate an NFL team.

Harrison Smith of nan Minnesota Vikings looks connected aft nan crippled against nan Green Bay Packers astatine U.S. Bank Stadium connected Jan. 4, 2026 successful Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)

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While he was only a believe squad personnel successful 2016, he yet made his regular-season debut successful 2017 aft going from moving backmost to fullback, and he ne'er wavered from his role.

From 2017-2025, Ham totaled 681 receiving yards and 119 rushing yards pinch 8 full touchdowns, including 1 from nan extremity statement connected Sunday successful nan win. Ham made nan Pro Bowl successful nan NFC successful 2019 and 2023.

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