Bubba Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bubba Smith

Smith in 2009
No. 78, 77
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1945-02-28)February 28, 1945 Orange, Texas, U.S.
Died:	August 3, 2011(2011-08-03) (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Charlton-Pollard (Beaumont, Texas)
College:	Michigan State (1964–1966)
NFL Draft:	1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Baltimore Colts (1967–1972) Oakland Raiders (1973–1974) Houston Oilers (1975–1976)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (V) NFL champion (1968) First-team All-Pro (1971) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1968, 1970) 2× Pro Bowl (1970, 1971) UPI Lineman of the Year (1966) 2× Consensus All-American (1965, 1966) Michigan State Spartans No. 95 retired
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 111 Fumble recoveries: 4 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Charles Aaron Smith (born February 28, 1945 – died August 3, 2011), known as Bubba Smith, was a famous American football player and actor. He was a powerful defensive end who played for the Michigan State Spartans and then in the National Football League (NFL).

Bubba Smith was known for his huge size, standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. Despite his size, he was very quick. After his football career, he became a popular actor, especially known for his funny roles in the Police Academy movies. Later in his life, doctors found that he had a brain condition called CTE, which can be caused by repeated head impacts in sports.

Early Life and High School Football

Bubba Smith was born in Orange, Texas, on February 28, 1945. He grew up in Beaumont, Texas. His father, Willie Ray Smith Sr., was a successful football coach. Bubba played for his father at Charlton-Pollard High School in Beaumont. He became one of the best high school football players in Texas. Bubba's younger brother, Tody Smith, also played college and professional football.

College Football Career

Bubba Smith wanted to play college football at the University of Texas. However, because of racial segregation at the time, he was not offered a scholarship there. This made him even more determined to succeed.

He chose to play for Michigan State University. There, he became an All-American in both 1965 and 1966. Fans at Michigan State loved him and would cheer, "Kill, Bubba, Kill!"

His last game at Michigan State was a famous 10–10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. This game was called "The Game of the Century" because both teams were undefeated and ranked very high. Bubba Smith tackled Notre Dame's starting quarterback, Terry Hanratty, early in the game.

In 1988, Bubba Smith was honored by being put into the College Football Hall of Fame. Michigan State also retired his number 95 jersey in 2006, meaning no other player at the school can wear that number.

Professional Football Career

Bubba Smith was the very first player picked in the 1967 NFL draft. He was chosen by the Baltimore Colts. He played nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end.

He played in two Super Bowls with the Colts. They lost Super Bowl III but won Super Bowl V two years later. That was his only Super Bowl championship ring. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice and was named a First-team All-Pro in 1971.

Later, he played for the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers. His football journey inspired a documentary called Through the Banks of the Red Cedar.

Acting Career

After he stopped playing football, Bubba Smith started acting in movies and on TV in the late 1970s. He is most famous for playing Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movie series. He was in almost all of those movies.

He also appeared in commercials for Miller Lite beer with another football star, Dick Butkus. Bubba Smith was in many TV shows, including Good Times, Wonder Woman, Taxi, MacGyver, Married... with Children, and Family Matters.

Personal Life and Health

Bubba Smith passed away on August 3, 2011, in his Los Angeles home. He was 66 years old and died from heart disease.

CTE Diagnosis

In 2016, it was announced that Bubba Smith had a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition is often found in athletes who have had many head impacts during their careers. Researchers found that Smith had Stage 3 CTE, which can affect a person's thinking and planning abilities.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Bubba Smith para niños