All things considered., the stop was pretty brief. Nevertheless, Abram Smith was a Viking before becoming a Defender.

The ex-Vikings running back helped push the DC Defenders to the finals of the UFL. Doing so meant taking down the Orlando Storm, the top team in the playoffs, by a score of 28-22. Smith helped his side considerably, turning 11 carries into 57 yards and 1 touchdown.

Ex-Vikings RB Going to Championship

Abram Smith’s highlights were plastered on social media for all to see. Check out the score:

And there was an explosive scamper earlier in the game, as well:

Oddly enough, the runner who functioned as the RB2 over the weekend was Xazavian Valladay, another former Viking. His final stat tally shows 8 carries for 42 yards, working out to a tidy 5.2 yards-per-carry average.

So, too, do the Defenders boast other former Vikings in QB Jordan Ta’amu (working through injury) and EDGE Andre Mintze (allegedly). Minnesota alumni were therefore well represented.

Abram Smith’s time with the Vikings was modest, all things considered. After working as an undrafted talent with the Saints — demanding a beefy $222,000 in guarantees, per OTC — Smith moved to Minnesota. All of this occurred in 2023. At the time, Kirk Cousins was handing the ball off to Alexander Mattison while most hoped Ty Chandler would breakout.

Fast forward to the present day and Minnesota’s RB room looks considerably different than just a few years ago. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason return to be the thunder and lightning, but 6th-Round pick Demond Claiborne hopes to toss some electricity into the position, too.

Plus, the fullback spot has been reborn. Gone is C.J. Ham due to retirement. Replacing him is Max Bredeson, a 5th-Round choice who played with J.J. McCarthy at Michigan.

On this end of the internet, the belief is that the UFL is a strong product.

Past pro leagues in the spring and early summer have struggled to stick around, but the quality of the football is there. Hopefully the league finds stable footing, allowing for a lasting pro league in the current football void that is the early portion of the summer. After all, DT Jalen Redmond went from UFL add to Vikings DT1.

The sport is healthier when there is more opportunity to play. Ex-Vikings RB Abram Smith is unlikely to get back to the Twin Cities, but maybe some ongoing excellence will lead to a shot in an NFL training camp, which get rolling in July.