Jimmy Smith (wide receiver) facts for kids

Jimmy Lee Smith Jr., born on February 9, 1969, is a famous American former professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. With the Cowboys, he helped his team win two Super Bowls in a row against the Buffalo Bills.

Early Life and Nickname

Jimmy Smith grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. He went to Callaway High School. There, he played wide receiver and was recognized as one of the best players in his area during his senior year. His teammates gave him the cool nickname "Silk." They called him this because he made difficult plays look so easy and smooth!

College Football Journey

After high school, Jimmy Smith received a football scholarship to Jackson State University. In his first two years, he was a backup wide receiver.

He became a starting player in his third year. He and his teammate, Tim Barnett, became one of the best receiving duos in their college division. That year, Jimmy caught 40 passes for 877 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. In one amazing game against Southern University, he caught 4 passes for 184 yards and tied a school record by scoring 3 receiving touchdowns.

In his final 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. He earned a degree in business administration. In 2011, he was honored by being named to the Jackson State University All-Century team.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jimmy Smith in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft. This was a big achievement! He missed the first few games of his first season because of a leg injury. When he returned, he played on special teams. On October 11, he played in his first professional game against the Seattle Seahawks.

In a game against the Atlanta Falcons, he made a memorable tackle on Deion Sanders during a punt return. The Cowboys had a great season, finishing with a 13–3 record. Jimmy played in his first playoff game in January 1993. As a rookie, he won his first Super Bowl ring when the Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17 in Super Bowl XXVII.

In 1993, Jimmy was doing well in the preseason. However, he had to miss the entire season due to a serious illness that required surgery. Even though he couldn't play, the Cowboys went on to win Super Bowl XXVIII that year. In July 1994, he left the Cowboys.

Time with the Philadelphia Eagles

On July 19, 1994, Jimmy Smith signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he was released by the team in August of that year.

Becoming a Star with the Jacksonville Jaguars

On February 28, 1995, Jimmy Smith got a new chance when he signed with the new team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their 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.

The next year, he became a starter. He really shined, gaining 1,244 receiving yards and scoring 7 touchdowns. He helped the Jaguars win their 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." He and fellow receiver Keenan McCardell were known as "Thunder and Lightning" because of their powerful playing style. Their story was even featured in an NFL Film's show called "A Football Life."

Jimmy continued to be a vital part of the Jaguars' offense. He helped the team make it to the playoffs for four years in a row (1996–1999). In 1999, he had an amazing year, gaining 1,636 receiving yards and scoring 6 touchdowns. He helped make the Jaguars the best team in the NFL during the regular season.

In 2000, he had one of his best career games against the Baltimore Ravens. He caught 15 passes for 291 receiving yards (which is the fifth-highest in NFL history) and scored 3 touchdowns.

In 2001, he bravely overcame three difficult surgeries during the offseason. In 2003, he had a challenging year, finishing with 805 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

On May 11, 2006, Jimmy Smith decided to retire from the NFL. He finished his career with 862 catches, which was seventh-most in NFL history at the time. He also had 12,287 receiving yards, ranking 11th all-time. 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 also the Jacksonville Jaguars' all-time leading receiver, leading the team in receiving every season from 1996 to 2005. He set team records with 116 catches and 1,636 yards in 1999, both career highs. His career high for touchdowns was eight, which he achieved in 1998, 2000, and 2001.

In 2016, he was honored by being inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars, which is the team's special ring of honor.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

NFL Records Set by Jimmy Smith

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

Jacksonville Jaguars Team Records

As of the 2017 NFL off-season, Jimmy Smith held at least 31 Jaguars team records, 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)
• 100+ yard receiving games: career (48), season (10 in 1999), playoffs (2)
• Games with 1+ Touchdown scored: career (64), playoffs (5)
• Games with 2+ Touchdowns scored: playoffs (2)
• 1,000+ receiving yard seasons: career (9)

Personal Life

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, his son Trey received a football scholarship to the University of Louisville. Trey later transferred to the Wyoming Cowboys and was an important player there. He even had a try-out with his father's old team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Interestingly, Jimmy's father, Jimmy Smith Sr., also played professional football as 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 has "smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallions, and crabstick, deep-fried with spicy mayo sauce." You can still find these rolls at many sushi restaurants in the Jacksonville area.