Steve Smith Sr.

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time First Team All-Pro (2005, 2008) by the Associated Press, Smith emerged as one of the NFL's most productive wide receivers in history, leading the league in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns in 2005. At the time of his retirement, Smith ranked seventh in NFL career all-purpose yards (19,180), eighth in NFL career receiving yards (seventh among wide receivers all-time) (14,731), twelfth in career receptions (1,031), and 26th in receiving touchdowns (81). Smith amassed 89 total touchdowns in the regular season (81 receiving, 1 rushing, 7 return) and 96 total touchdowns including the postseason (87 receiving, 1 rushing, 8 return). Smith emerged as one of the most statistically efficient wide receivers of all-time, in the 2005 NFL season Smith became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions (receiving triple crown) despite being on a team that was ranked (28th) in pass attempts. In the 2008 NFL season Smith became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards per game despite being on an offense that was last in pass attempts. In 2008, Smith produced the highest yards per team pass attempt (RY/TPA) in the modern era with a rating of (4.03). Smith also has the highest yards per route run (YPRR) in NFL history with a rating of (3.87) from 2008. Smith is currently tied for 5th all-time in 100-yard receiving games alongside Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens with (51). Smith’s dominance extended into the postseason, where he holds the NFL record for the highest career receiving yards per game average (91.0) among players with a minimum of 10 playoff games.

In Their Own Story

In his first play as a professional, Smith returned the opening kickoff of the first game of the 2001 season for a touchdown. The Panthers finished 1–15 that year, but Smith was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. In 2002, he led the NFL with 55 punt returns and two punt return touchdowns. During the 2003 season, Smith helped lead the Panthers to their first NFC title. In the NFC divisional playoffs, he caught a 69-yard pass and ran it for a touchdown in the second overtime period to defeat the St. Louis Rams 29–23. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, he caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 32–29 loss to the New England Patriots. After suffering a broken leg in the 2004 season opener, Smith came back in 2005 to have the best season of his career. He earned the "Triple Crown" of receiving, leading the NFL in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563), and receiving touchdowns (12), becoming only the third player after Jerry Rice (1990) and Sterling Sharpe (1992) to accomplish this in the Super Bowl era. In the 2005 playoffs, Smith set a franchise record with 12 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns in a divisional round win over the Chicago Bears.

Reader's Guide

Smith attended University High School in Los Angeles, lettering in football and track & field. He played running back and defensive back in football, earning All-Metro League and All-California Interscholastic Federation selections. He graduated in 1997. In track, he set school records, was an All-City high-hurdler, and excelled in triple jump and 300m hurdles, with personal bests of 14.95 seconds in the 110m hurdles and 38.73 seconds in the 300m hurdles. After high school, Smith attended Santa Monica College, playing for the Corsairs and becoming teammates with future NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson. Head coach Robert Taylor advised Smith to play for a scholarship and a better education, and Smith did not miss a single day of classes. After two years, Smith transferred to the University of Utah, where he set a record for yards per catch (20.6) and was chosen for the conference all-star team twice. In his first season, he ranked 4th in the NCAA in punt return yards (495) and yards per return (17.1). He missed his final bowl game due to injury. After the Blue–Gray All-Star game on December 25, 2000, he gained NFL scout attention and was named offensive MVP of the January 13, 2001 East–West Shrine Game. He finished at Utah with 78 receptions for 1,608 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus 1,365 return yards and 4 touchdowns on special teams. He and his wife have endowed an athletics scholarship at the University of Utah. The Carolina Panthers chose Smith in the third round (74th overall) of the 2001 NFL draft. In his rookie season, he spent most of his time as a kick and punt returner, leading all rookies in net yardage with 1,994 yards, and finishing fourth among all NFL players. In his first play as a professional, Smith returned the opening kickoff of the first game of the season for a touchdown. He also had ten catches for 154 yards, and rushed four times for 43 yards. The team finished 1–15. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. In 2002, Smith earned a starting wide receiver position and continued as returner. In Week 4, he had five receptions for 116 yards for his first 100-yard game. On November 18, 2002, Smith attacked practice squad player Anthony Bright during a film session after Bright asked for a play to be shown again. Bright was hospitalized for two days; Smith was arrested and charged with misdemeanor

Did You Know?

• Smith led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 2005, becoming the only player in NFL history to achieve the receiving triple crown while his team ranked 28th in pass attempts.
• In 2008, Smith became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards per game despite being on an offense that was last in pass attempts.
• Smith holds the NFL record for highest career receiving yards per game average in the postseason (91.0) among players with a minimum of 10 playoff games.
• Smith returned the opening kickoff of the 2001 season opener against the Minnesota Vikings for a touchdown, though it was not his first play as a professional.