Steve Smith

Lore & Background

A five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro (including a 2011 selection from Pro Football Focus), 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), seventh in NFL career receiving yards (sixth 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 and (100) total touchdowns including the postseason. 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

The November wind off the Atlantic cut through the stands at Bank of America Stadium, carrying the smell of cold air and cheap beer. On the sideline, the Panthers' offensive coordinator scribbled a play on a whiteboard — a simple post route, third down, 12 to go. He didn't even look up when he called the number. "Eighty-one. Post. Go."

Smith was already in the huddle, adjusting his gloves, his breath forming small clouds in the Carolina cold. He'd run that same post route ten thousand times in practice, in the film room, in the quiet hours at 6 a.m. when the facility was empty and the only sound was the squeak of his cleats on the turf. He didn't need the whiteboard. He didn't need the play call. He just needed the snap count. The ball arrived in his hands like it had been waiting for him. The cornerback's fingers brushed the leather but couldn't peel it away. Smith tucked it, hit the sideline, and jogged back to the huddle without a word. The crowd roared. He just smiled, pulled off his helmet, and went back to work.

Reader's Guide

Smith attended University High School in Los Angeles, and was a letterman in football and track & field. In football, he played running back and defensive back, and was an All-Metro League selection as well as an All-California Interscholastic Federation selection. Smith graduated from University High School in 1997. In track & field, he set a handful of school records, was named as an All-City selection as a high-hurdler, and also excelled in the triple jump and 300m hurdles. He had personal-bests of 14.95 seconds in the 110m hurdles and 38.73 seconds in the 300m hurdles. After graduating from high school, Smith attended Santa Monica College. While playing for the Santa Monica Corsairs football team, Smith was noticed to be a talented football player, and earned a starting position. During this time, Smith was teammates with future NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson. Santa Monica's head coach, Robert Taylor, encouraged Smith to not play for riches or fame, but to play so that he might earn a scholarship to a Division-I school. He also advised Smith and Johnson to not do touchdown celebrations. Smith took Taylor's advice to heart, and excelled in his academics, not missing a single day of classes while attending Santa Monica. After completing two years at Santa Monica College, Smith transferred to the University of Utah, where he established himself as a standout wideout for the Utah Utes football team in the Mountain West Conference where he was a teammate of future NFL running back Mike Anderson. While at the University of Utah, Smith set a record for yards per catch with a 20.6 average, and was chosen to play for the conference's all-star team twice. In his first season on the team, he ranked 4th in the NCAA in both punt return yards (495) and yard per return (17.1). However, he missed their bowl game in his final season due to injury. After the Blue–Gray All-Star game on December 25, 2000, Smith began to receive attention from various NFL scouts. He was named offensive MVP of the January 13, 2001, East–West Shrine Game. Smith finished his time at Utah with 78 receptions for 1,608 yards and 12 touchdowns, with another 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) during the 2001 NFL draft. Smith spent a m

Did You Know?

• Smith was selected by the Panthers in the third round (74th overall) of the 2001 NFL draft.
• Smith is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro.
• In 2005, 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 ranked 28th 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's first play as a professional was a kickoff return for a touchdown in the 2001 season opener.