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

Aaron Jones spoke after the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants 16-13.

The Minnesota Vikings didn't want their 2025 season to end on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, but that's the tale of the tape after 18 regular-season games resulted in no playoff berth this year. 

As a result, two team legends may have played their final game with the organization they've helped grow for over a decade. 

Safety Harrison Smith and fullback C.J. Ham have both indicated that the 2025 season could be their final one in the NFL, and they were quite emotional in the locker room after head coach Kevin O'Connell gave each of them a game ball, signifying how much they meant to everyone in the locker room, the fan base and the organization as a whole. 

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C.J. Ham of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after defeating the Green Bay Packers 16-3 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)

O'Connell listed some accomplishments for each player, starting with Ham. 

"Ten seasons, 141 games played, which is the second-most by a running back or fullback in Minnesota Vikings history," O'Connell said about Ham in a video posted by the Vikings' social media team after the 16-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers. "Two-time Pro Bowler, two-time [Walter Payton] Man of the Year, four-time team captain and somebody who has changed my life, made me better in every aspect of my life just being around him on a daily basis. I know many of us feel the same way. When these type of players come into an organization, man, we’re lucky. We are lucky to be around you every day."

Ham made a speech in front of his teammates, where it sounded like he was definitely ready to