Jimmy Smith (wide receiver) facts for kids

Jimmy Lee Smith Jr. (born February 9, 1969) is a former professional football wide receiver. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. With the Cowboys, he won two Super Bowls in a row against the Buffalo Bills.

Early Life and Nickname

Jimmy Smith was born to Jimmy and Etta Smith. He grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and went to Callaway High School. There, he played as a wide receiver. In his senior year, he was recognized as an All-conference player. His teammates called him "Silk" because he made difficult plays look very easy.

College Football Journey

After high school, Jimmy Smith did not receive offers from top college football teams. So, he accepted a scholarship to Jackson State University. For his first two years, he was a backup wide receiver.

In his third year, he became a starter. He and Tim Barnett formed a powerful receiving duo. Jimmy caught 40 passes for 877 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. In one game against Southern University, he caught 4 passes for 184 yards. He also tied a school record with 3 receiving touchdowns in that game.

In his final college year, he led his team with 43 catches for 801 yards and 3 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 110 catches, 2,073 yards, and 16 touchdowns. He even set a school record with 10 catches for 239 yards in a game against Delaware State University. Jimmy earned a degree in business administration. In 2011, he was honored by being named to the Jackson State University All-Century team.

Playing in the NFL

Dallas Cowboys Years

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jimmy Smith in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft. He broke his right leg during a practice game and missed the first four games of his rookie season. When he returned, he was the fourth wide receiver on the team. He played in seven games, mostly on special teams, but did not catch any passes. The Cowboys had a great season, finishing with a 13–3 record. Jimmy played in his first playoff game in January 1993. The Cowboys went on to win Super Bowl XXVII, beating the Buffalo Bills. This gave Jimmy his first Super Bowl ring as a rookie.

In 1993, Jimmy was doing well in the preseason. He was competing for a bigger role on the team. However, he faced a serious health issue that required surgery. This meant he had to miss the entire season. The Cowboys went on to win Super Bowl XXVIII that year, but Jimmy could not play.

In July 1994, the Cowboys decided to let him go.

Short Time with the Eagles

On July 19, 1994, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jimmy Smith. But he was released by the team on August 30, before the regular season began.

Becoming a Star with the Jaguars

On February 28, 1995, Jimmy Smith got another chance. He was signed by the new Jacksonville Jaguars team after a tryout. Head coach Tom Coughlin saw his talent. Jimmy worked hard and made the team. He started as the fifth wide receiver on the depth chart. He ended his first season leading the Jaguars in kickoff returns.

The next year, he became a starter. He quickly became a top receiver, gaining 1,244 receiving yards. He also scored 7 touchdowns. He helped the team win its last five games and reach the AFC Championship Game.

Jimmy Smith became a key player for the Jaguars for ten years. His teammates called him "J-Smooth." Later, he and fellow receiver Keenan McCardell were known as "Thunder and Lightning." This nickname came after a photo shoot in 1997. Their story was even featured in an NFL Film's special called "Keenan McCardell & Jimmy Smith."

Jimmy helped lead the Jaguars to the playoffs for four years in a row (1996–1999). In 1999, he helped make the Jaguars the best team in the NFL during the regular season. He had an amazing 1,636 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns that year.

In 2000, Jimmy had one of his best games ever. He caught 15 passes for 291 receiving yards, which is one of the highest totals in NFL history. He also scored 3 touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens, who later won the Super Bowl.

In 2001, Jimmy overcame some health challenges during the offseason. He still had a great year, catching 112 passes for 1,373 yards and 8 touchdowns.

On May 11, 2006, Jimmy Smith decided to retire from the NFL. He finished his career with 862 catches, which was seventh all-time in NFL history at the time. He also had 12,287 receiving yards, ranking 11th. He scored 67 career touchdown catches with the Jaguars. Jimmy was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times in a row from 1997 to 2001. He is still the Jacksonville Jaguars' all-time leading receiver. He led the team in receiving every season from 1996 to 2005. His career high for catches was 116 in 1999, and his career high for yards was 1,636 in 1999. He scored 8 touchdowns in three different seasons (1998, 2000, and 2001).

In 2016, Jimmy Smith was honored by being inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars. This is the team's special ring of honor for its greatest players.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Performance

NFL Records Held by Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith holds several impressive NFL records:

• Most games with at least 5 receptions in a season: 16 games (every game in 2001). This record has since been tied by other players.
• Most consecutive games with at least 5 receptions: 21 games. This record has since been broken.
• Most games with at least 49 receiving yards in a season: 16 games (every game in 2001).

Jacksonville Jaguars Team Records

As of 2017, Jimmy Smith held at least 31 records for the Jacksonville Jaguars, including:

• Receptions: career (862), season (116 in 1999)
• Receiving Yards: career (12,287), season (1,636 in 1999), game (291 on September 10, 2000, against Baltimore), playoffs (647), playoff season (228 in 1999), playoff game (136 on January 15, 2000, against Miami)
• Yards per Reception: career (14.25), playoffs (16.18), playoff season (22.8 in 1999), playoff game (27.2 on January 15, 2000, against Miami)
• Receiving Touchdowns: career (67), game (3 on September 10, 2000, against Baltimore), playoffs (7), playoff season (3 in 1998), playoff game (2 on January 15, 2000, against Miami)
• Receiving Yards per Game: career (71.9), playoffs (71.9), playoff season (114 in 1999)
• Total Touchdowns: playoffs (7), playoff season (3 in 1998), playoff game (2 on January 15, 2000, against Miami)
• Yards from Scrimmage: game (291 on September 10, 2000, against Baltimore)
• Games with 100+ receiving yards: career (48), season (10 in 1999), playoffs (2)
• Games with 1+ touchdown scored: career (64), playoffs (5)
• Games with 2+ touchdowns scored: playoffs (2)
• Seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards: career (9)

Personal Life and Family

Jimmy Smith and his wife Sandra live in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. They have five children: Jimmy III ("Trey"), Jaden, Dalys, Dyson, and Jayse. In September 2014, Trey received a football scholarship to the University of Louisville. Trey later transferred to the Wyoming Cowboys and became an important player there. He even had a try-out with his father's old team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was not offered a contract.

Jimmy's father, Jimmy Smith Sr., also played professional football. He was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968.

Because of Jimmy Smith's popularity, some sushi restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida, created a special sushi roll named after him. It's called "The Jimmy Smith Roll." This roll usually has smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallions, and crabstick, deep-fried with a spicy mayo sauce. You can still find "Jimmy Smith Rolls" at many sushi restaurants in the Jacksonville area today!