Alex Smith facts for kids

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Alex Smith

Smith with the Washington Redskins in 2018

No. 11

Position:

Quarterback

Personal information

Born:

May 7, 1984 (age 41)
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Weight:

215 lb (98 kg)

Career information

High school:

Helix (La Mesa, California)

College:

Utah (2002–2004)

NFL Draft:

2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1

Career history

San Francisco 49ers (2005)
Kansas City Chiefs (2013)
Washington Redskins / Football Team (2018)

Career highlights and awards

NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2020)
3× Pro Bowl (2013, 2016, 2017)
NFL passer rating leader (2017)
George Halas Award (2021)
Sporting News Player of the Year (2004)
First-team All-American (2004)
MW Offensive Player of the Year (2004)
First-team All-MW (2004)
Second-team All-MW (2003)

Career NFL statistics

Passing attempts:	5,193
Passing completions:	3,250
Completion percentage:	62.6%
TD–INT:	199–109
Passing yards:	35,650
Passer rating:	86.9

Player stats at PFR

College Football Hall of Fame

Alexander Douglas Smith (born May 7, 1984) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. Smith played college football for the Utah Utes. He earned top honors and won the 2005 Fiesta Bowl as a senior. The San Francisco 49ers picked him first overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

Smith faced challenges early in his career. But in 2011, he led the 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002. He also helped them reach the NFC Championship Game. The next year, a concussion caused him to lose his starting spot. He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. There, he led them to four playoff runs and their first playoff win since 1993. Smith was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times with the Chiefs. He also led the league in passer rating in 2017.

In 2018, Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins. During his first season, he suffered a very serious leg injury. Many thought he would never play again. But Smith worked hard to recover and returned in 2020. He became Washington's starting quarterback again. He led the team to a division title. For this amazing comeback, he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Smith retired in 2021. His return from injury is seen as one of the greatest in NFL history.

Early Life and High School Football

Alex Smith was born in Bremerton, Washington on May 7, 1984. He grew up in La Mesa, California. His father worked at Helix High School, where Alex went to school.

As the starting quarterback for the Helix Highlanders, Smith had an amazing record of 25 wins and only 1 loss. He led his team to win two San Diego CIF section championships. He was named the conference offensive player of the year twice. He also won the team MVP award for Helix twice. Smith set a school record by throwing six touchdowns in one game. He was teammates with future NFL star Reggie Bush. Both Smith and Bush were finalists for the 2004 Heisman Trophy. This was the first time two players from the same high school were finalists in the same year.

Smith was also very smart in school. He was president of his senior class. He earned college credits while still in high school.

College Career at Utah

Smith went to the University of Utah and played for the Utah Utes. He wore jersey number 11. In 2004, he was chosen as the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. Smith had a great record of 21 wins and 1 loss as a starter in college. He led the Utes to wins in the 2003 Liberty Bowl and the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Smith earned a college degree in economics in just two years. He even started working on his master's degree before being drafted into the NFL.

College Statistics

Utah Utes
Season	GP	Passing							Rushing
Season	GP	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	TD
2002	2	2	4	50.0	4	0	1	8.4	2	−11	0
2003	11	173	266	65.0	2,247	15	3	152.3	149	452	5
2004	12	214	317	67.5	2,952	32	4	176.1	135	631	10
Total	25	389	587	66.3	5,203	47	8	164.4	286	1,072	15

Professional Football Career

Becoming an NFL Player

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand size	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Wonderlic
6 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1.93 m)	217 lb (98 kg)	31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m)	9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m)	4.71 s	1.67 s	2.80 s	3.96 s	6.82 s	32 in (0.81 m)	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)	40
All values from NFL Combine

At the NFL combine, a special event for college players, Smith showed his athletic skills. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds. He also scored very high on the Wonderlic exam, which tests intelligence.

San Francisco 49ers Years (2005–2012)

The San Francisco 49ers chose Alex Smith as the very first player in the 2005 NFL draft. He signed a big contract with the team.

Early Challenges (2005–2010)

Smith's first few years with the 49ers were tough. He dealt with injuries and different coaches. In his rookie year (2005), he played in nine games. He threw only one touchdown pass and had many interceptions.

In 2006, the 49ers got new players to help Smith. He worked hard to improve his skills. He threw more touchdowns and fewer interceptions than before. He even met legendary quarterback Joe Montana during a game. Smith showed flashes of his talent, leading the 49ers to some important wins.

In 2007, Smith had another new offensive coordinator. He injured his right shoulder early in the season. This injury kept him out of several games. He later needed surgery on his shoulder, ending his season. In 2008, he was placed on injured reserve again due to his shoulder. Many thought he might leave the 49ers. But he agreed to a lower salary to stay with the team.

In 2009, Smith had his fifth different offensive coordinator in five seasons. He started the season as a backup. But he got his chance in Week 7 and became the starting quarterback again. He showed good progress, throwing for over 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 49ers finished the season with an even record of 8 wins and 8 losses.

The 2010 season started poorly for the 49ers. Smith also faced more injuries. He was even replaced by another quarterback for a few games. But he returned to finish the season. By the end of 2010, Smith had won only 19 games in 50 starts.

Turning Point and Playoff Success (2011–2012)

In 2011, the 49ers hired a new head coach, Jim Harbaugh. Smith decided to stay with the team, even though his family wanted him to leave. He signed a one-year contract. Harbaugh believed in Smith, and it made a big difference.

Smith's play improved a lot in 2011. He became a strong leader. He helped the 49ers win games by playing smart and avoiding mistakes. In one game, he led the team to a comeback win after being down by 20 points! The 49ers finished the season with an amazing 13 wins and 3 losses. This was their best record since 1997. Smith finally made his first playoff appearance.

In the playoffs, Smith led the 49ers to a thrilling win over the New Orleans Saints. He threw for almost 300 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. He even threw the game-winning touchdown pass with only nine seconds left! The 49ers then lost a close game in the NFC Championship. Smith had a great season, setting personal bests in many areas. He threw only 5 interceptions, which was a 49ers record.

In 2012, Smith signed a new contract to stay with the 49ers. He started the season strong, leading the team to a 6-2-1 record. But he suffered a concussion in Week 10. His backup, Colin Kaepernick, played very well in his place. Coach Harbaugh decided to keep Kaepernick as the starter. Smith, despite his good play, lost his starting job. He was still a great teammate and helped Kaepernick.

Kansas City Chiefs Years (2013–2017)

On February 27, 2013, the 49ers traded Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs' head coach, Andy Reid, said Smith would be their starting quarterback. Smith quickly showed his high "football IQ" and accurate passing.

Leading the Chiefs to Success

In 2013, Smith led the Chiefs to a fantastic start, winning their first nine games. He earned his first and only perfect passer rating in a game against the Oakland Raiders. He threw five touchdowns in that game! The Chiefs made the playoffs. In a wild playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, Smith threw four touchdowns. He was also chosen for his first Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

In 2014, Smith signed a new contract with the Chiefs. He continued to play well, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Chiefs finished with a winning record.

In 2015, Smith led the Chiefs back to the playoffs. They won their first playoff game against the Houston Texans with a score of 30-0. Smith threw for 190 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs became the first team ever to start a season with a 1-5 record and still win a playoff game. Smith had another strong season, throwing for over 3,400 yards and 20 touchdowns.

In 2016, Smith led a huge comeback win against the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs were down 24-3 in the third quarter but won 33-27 in overtime! Smith set a new career high in passing yards with over 3,500. He helped the Chiefs reach the playoffs again.

The 2017 season was Smith's best. He threw for a career-high 4,042 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had a league-leading passer rating of 104.7. In Week 1, he threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns against the defending Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. This earned him his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Smith was chosen for the Pro Bowl again. He also helped develop the Chiefs' young quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who later became an NFL MVP. Smith ended his Chiefs career with two division titles.

Washington Redskins / Football Team Years (2018–2020)

In 2018, Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins. He signed a new contract with them. He started well, leading Washington to a 6-3 record through the first nine games.

Life-Threatening Leg Injury

On November 18, 2018, during a game against the Houston Texans, Smith suffered a terrible injury to his right leg. He broke two bones in his leg. The injury was similar to one suffered by former Washington quarterback Joe Theismann 33 years earlier on the exact same day.

After his first surgery, Smith got a very serious infection. Doctors had to perform 17 surgeries over nine months to save his leg. They even thought they might have to remove his leg. But doctors were able to save it by using skin and muscle from other parts of his body. As part of his recovery, Smith wore a special device on his leg for almost a year.

Incredible Comeback (2020)

Smith missed the entire 2019 season while recovering. But in early 2020, he said he planned to return to football. An ESPN documentary called Project 11 showed his amazing recovery journey.

In July 2020, doctors cleared Smith to play football again. His first game back was in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. He entered the game after another quarterback got hurt. It was an emotional moment for many.

Smith became Washington's starting quarterback again later in the season. In Week 11, he threw for a career-high 390 yards. The following week, he got his first win since the injury. In Week 13, he led Washington to an upset victory over the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. He helped Washington win the NFC East division title by winning the final regular-season game.

After the season, Smith was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. This award recognized his incredible journey back to playing football. Smith retired on April 19, 2021. His story is one of the most inspiring comebacks in sports history.

Broadcasting Career

After retiring from playing, Smith joined ESPN in August 2021. He now works as an NFL analyst for shows like SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown.

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular Season

Year	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing				Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
2005	SF	9	7	2–5	84	165	50.9	875	5.3	1	11	40.8	30	103	3.4	0	29	185	11	3
2006	SF	16	16	7–9	257	442	58.1	2,890	6.5	16	16	74.8	44	147	3.3	2	35	202	10	5
2007	SF	7	7	2–5	94	193	48.7	914	4.7	2	4	57.2	13	89	6.8	0	17	121	6	5
2008	SF	0	0	did not play due to injury
2009	SF	11	10	5–5	225	372	60.5	2,350	6.3	18	12	81.5	24	51	2.2	0	22	134	3	1
2010	SF	11	10	3–7	204	342	59.6	2,370	6.9	14	10	82.1	18	60	3.3	0	25	140	4	2
2011	SF	16	16	13–3	273	445	61.3	3,144	7.1	17	5	90.7	52	179	3.4	2	44	263	7	2
2012	SF	10	9	6–2–1	153	218	70.2	1,737	8.0	13	5	104.1	31	132	4.3	0	24	137	4	1
2013	KC	15	15	11–4	308	508	60.6	3,313	6.5	23	7	89.1	76	431	5.1	1	39	210	7	3
2014	KC	15	15	8–7	303	464	65.3	3,265	7.0	18	6	93.4	49	254	5.2	1	45	229	4	1
2015	KC	16	16	11–5	307	470	65.3	3,486	7.4	20	7	95.4	84	498	5.9	2	45	235	4	0
2016	KC	15	15	11–4	328	489	67.1	3,502	7.2	15	8	91.2	48	134	3.2	5	28	140	7	4
2017	KC	15	15	9–6	341	505	67.5	4,042	8.0	26	5	104.7	60	355	5.9	1	35	207	2	1
2018	WAS	10	10	6–4	205	328	62.5	2,180	6.6	10	5	85.7	41	168	4.1	1	22	121	6	1
2019	WAS	0	0	did not play due to injury
2020	WAS	8	6	5–1	167	252	66.7	1,582	6.3	6	8	78.5	10	3	0.3	0	22	139	1	0
Career		174	167	99–67–1	3,250	5,193	62.6	35,650	6.9	199	109	86.9	580	2,604	4.5	15	432	2,463	76	29

Postseason

Year	Team	Games			Passing								Rushing				Sacks		Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Sck	SckY	Fum	Lost
2011	SF	2	2	1–1	36	68	52.9	495	7.3	5	0	101.0	7	70	10.0	1	7	53	2	1
2012	SF	0	0	DNP
2013	KC	1	1	0–1	30	46	65.2	378	8.2	4	0	119.7	8	57	7.1	0	2	15	1	1
2015	KC	2	2	1–1	46	72	63.9	436	6.1	2	1	84.0	14	71	5.1	0	4	20	0	0
2016	KC	1	1	0–1	20	34	58.8	172	5.1	1	1	69.7	2	9	4.5	0	1	6	0	0
2017	KC	1	1	0–1	24	33	72.7	264	8.0	2	0	116.2	4	13	3.2	0	4	8	0	0
2020	WAS	0	0	did not play due to injury
Career		7	7	2–5	156	253	61.7	1,745	6.9	14	2	97.4	35	220	6.3	1	18	102	3	1

NFL Records

He achieved a perfect 158.3 passing rating in a game in 2013.
He holds the record for most passes to start a season without throwing an interception (287 in 2017).

49ers Team Records

Most 4th quarter comeback wins in one season: 6 (2011)
Fewest interceptions in one season: 5 in 2011 (in 16 starts)
Most consecutive passes without an interception: 249

Chiefs Team Records

Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 498 (2015)
Most consecutive passes without an interception: 312 (2015)
Highest completion percentage in a season (minimum 200 attempts): 67.5 (2017)

Personal Life

Alex Smith married Elizabeth Barry, a former cheerleader, in 2009. They have two sons and one daughter.

Smith has a special tattoo of four firesteels. This honors his great-grandfather, who came to the U.S. from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Smith also started the Alex Smith Foundation. This charity helps foster teens go to college. He has given a lot of his own money to this program. His foundation is known for using most of its funds to help students directly.

In 2014, the University of Utah gave Smith an honorary doctor's degree. He also gave the speech at their graduation ceremony.

In 2021, Smith launched a clothing collection called Just Live. All the money from this collection goes to the Center for the Intrepid. This is where he did much of his rehabilitation after his injury.