Upon arriving in Orlando on Tuesday, one of the first people Mitch Trubisky ran across at his hotel was Vikings safety Harrison Smith. What a “welcome to the Pro Bowl” moment.

Awwwwkkkk-warrrrd.

Except not even a little.

Yes, Smith’s late hit on Trubisky in the fourth quarter of a Week 11 game at Soldier Field left the Bears quarterback with an injured right shoulder that kept him out for the next two games. But as Trubisky talked about becoming NFC teammates with Smith for the week, he seemed genuinely excited. Giddy almost.

“He’s an awesome dude,” Trubisky said with a huge smile. “Obviously a really good competitor as well and one of the best defensive players we went against all season long. But he’s honestly a really good dude. And it’s been nice to crack some jokes with him and get to know him.”

No, Smith said, there was no talk about that November play on which Trubisky scrambled for 5 yards and slid a bit off kilter before Smith plunged in with a shot that came late enough to earn him a 15-yard penalty and a $10,026 fine.

“I left it alone,” Smith said. “I just said hi. … From my standpoint, there was never any ill will or any bad intentions. There are enough guys in this league who know I’m not trying to be a (dirty) type of player.”

Trubisky seemed enthusiastic to start a relationship with one of his division rivals, while Smith said he appreciates Trubisky’s grounded nature and easygoing personality. So there will be no everlasting blood feud.

“No hard feelings, man,” Trubisky said. “The season’s over. So definitely no hard feelings. At least from me. He might want to secretly tackle me again or something. I don’t know.”

For the record, Smith has no such intentions.

“No,” he said with a laugh. “We’re cool.”

A week-by-week look at how Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky fared during the 2018 season. (Note: The Bears had a bye week in Week 5.) (Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

Still, Smith knows many fans in Chicago won’t be as readily forgiving as their Pro Bowl quarterback.

“I know he has parents who probably hate me now,” he said. “And I’m still getting murdered by Bears fans on social media. It’s ‘You better not come to Chicago. Keep your eyes open.’ That stuff. They think I’m a bad person.

“But I get it. I totally get it. If he was on my team, I’d be the same way.”

Smith developed a strong respect for Trubisky this season. Trubisky broke loose for 43 rushing yards in the Bears’ 25-20 win in November, using his mobility to fluster the Vikings defense all game.

“Super frustrating,” Smith said.

In the regular-season finale, Trubisky completed 18 of 26 passes for 163 yards, helped the Bears convert 8 of 14 third-down attempts and wasn’t sacked in a 24-10 win that ended the Vikings’ season.

“He has playmaking ability,” said Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. “He can drop back and throw it, but he can also ad lib and just make things happen. He did more of that the first game, and in the second game he was just getting back and getting the ball out to his guys.

“So you really saw his talent there with both styles, which is impressive to me. That’s how you win these days.”

Truthfully, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Trubisky and Smith have hit it off this week. Both players have a similar passion for the game and a constant drive to get better. Both also have down-to-earth personalities and an understanding of how to enjoy the grind.

On Sunday, both will try to help the NFC to a win. After all, players on the winning squad get paid twice as much as those on the losing squad.

At the very least, both Pro Bowlers are happy they finally had a chance to break the ice.

“That guy’s a competitor, man,” Smith said. “He’s not going to shy away from me. It was cool to meet him face to face. I respect that guy.”

dwiederer@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @danwiederer

Tarik Cohen is injecting his own unique brand of fun into the Pro Bowl experience »

The photo that Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes are dying to post »

'What do I really want? Akiem gets a sack. Get me one.' »