Jim Smith (wide receiver) facts for kids

Jim Smith (born July 20, 1955) is a former American football player. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Jim Smith played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Birmingham Stallions. He finished his career with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Early Life and High School Football

Jim Smith grew up in Robbins, Illinois. He went to Dwight D. Eisenhower High School. This school is in Blue Island, Illinois. He was a star player there. He earned special honors for his football skills. In his final year, he helped his team win a big conference championship.

College Football Career at Michigan

Jim Smith played for the University of Michigan from 1974 to 1976. He played as a flanker and wingback. During his three years, he caught 73 passes. These catches gained 1,687 yards. He also scored 14 touchdowns.

Smith was also good at returning punts. He returned 51 punts for 525 yards. This was an average of 10.3 yards per return. He also ran with the ball 56 times. He gained 394 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per carry.

Record-Breaking Play

On November 8, 1975, Michigan played against Purdue. In that game, Smith had an amazing day. He caught five passes for 184 yards. One of his catches was an 83-yard touchdown. This play set a record for the longest pass completion in Michigan history. Because of his great performance, he was chosen for the 1976 College Football All-America Team. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.

Professional Football Journey

The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Jim Smith in the 1977 NFL Draft. He was the 75th player chosen overall. He played for the Steelers from 1977 to 1982. During this time, he helped the team win two Super Bowl championships. He played alongside famous players like Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

Success with the Steelers

Smith's best season with the Steelers was in 1980. He caught 37 passes for 711 yards. He also scored nine touchdowns that year. In 1981, he had another strong year. He caught 29 passes for 571 yards and seven touchdowns. In 1982, he led the entire NFL. He averaged 22.8 yards per reception. Over his six years with the Steelers, Smith caught 113 passes. He gained 2,103 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.

Playing in the USFL

In April 1983, Jim Smith joined a new league. It was called the United States Football League (USFL). He signed a three-year contract with the Birmingham Stallions. He was offered a lot of money to join the USFL. It was more than most NFL receivers were making then.

Smith was the top receiver for the Stallions every year. He led the team in receiving from 1983 to 1985. In 1984, he caught 89 passes. He led the USFL with 1,481 receiving yards. He also scored eight touchdowns. The USFL's last season was 1985. That year, Smith had his best professional season. He caught 87 passes for 1,322 yards. He also led all USFL receivers with 20 touchdown catches. He was named to the 1985 USFL All-League team. He was also on The Sporting News's 1985 USFL All-Star Team.

After the USFL ended, Smith played one more season. He joined the Los Angeles Raiders in 1985.

See also

• Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders