Malcolm Smith (American football) facts for kids
Smith with USC in 2010
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born: | July 5, 1989 Woodland Hills, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
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| High school: | William Howard Taft (Woodland Hills, California) |
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| College: | USC (2007–2010) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: 7 / Pick: 242 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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Malcolm Xavier Smith, born on July 5, 1989, is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Malcolm played college football for the USC Trojans. He was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFL draft. Smith became famous for being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl XLVIII. This happened after the Seahawks won against the Denver Broncos.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Malcolm Smith went to William Howard Taft High School in California. He was a star in both football and track. In football, he was a top player from his sophomore year. He helped Taft win the L.A. City title in 2004.
As a junior in 2005, he continued to excel. He made 41 tackles and ran for 639 yards. He also scored 10 touchdowns as a running back. In his final year, despite a leg injury, he had 31 tackles and 10 sacks. He also ran for 919 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.
Malcolm was also a great track & field athlete. He ran in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. He could run the 100-meter dash in just 10.8 seconds. Many colleges offered him scholarships for football. These included Notre Dame and Michigan.
College Football Journey
Smith decided to play college football at the University of Southern California (USC). He joined the USC Trojans football team. In 2007, as a freshman, he played in all 13 games. He was a backup linebacker and played on special teams. He made six tackles that year.
In 2008, he continued as a backup and special teams player. He had 18 tackles in 13 games. A big moment came in 2009 against the UCLA Bruins. Smith helped the Trojans win 28–7. He even returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. This play earned him a special award for National Defensive Player of the Week.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Seattle Seahawks
Malcolm Smith was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft. He was the 242nd player picked overall. This was a reunion for Smith, as the Seahawks' head coach, Pete Carroll, had been his coach at USC.
In July 2011, Smith signed a four-year contract with the Seahawks. He worked hard in training camp to earn a spot. He became a backup outside linebacker. He played his first professional game against the San Francisco 49ers. In November 2011, he made his first career sack and forced a fumble. He finished his first year with 16 tackles.
Becoming a Starter and Super Bowl MVP
In 2012, Smith continued to play as a backup and on special teams. He got his first start in December 2012 against the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks made it to the playoffs that year. Smith played in his first playoff game against the Washington Redskins.
The 2013 season was a big one for Malcolm. He became a starting outside linebacker for the Seahawks. He had a season-high nine tackles against the Arizona Cardinals. In December 2013, he made his first career interception. He then returned another interception for his first career touchdown against the St. Louis Rams. He ended the 2013 season with 54 tackles and a touchdown.
The Seattle Seahawks had an amazing 2013 season. They finished with a 13–3 record and made it to the playoffs. Smith played a key role in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. He made a game-winning interception in the endzone. This play sealed the Seahawks' victory and sent them to the Super Bowl.
On February 2, 2014, the Seahawks played the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Malcolm Smith had an incredible game. He made ten tackles and recovered a fumble. Most famously, he intercepted a pass from quarterback Peyton Manning and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown. His amazing performance earned him the Super Bowl MVP award. He was the first defensive player to win this award in many years.
Later Career with Other Teams
After his Super Bowl MVP season, Smith returned to a backup role in 2014. He still played in 14 games and made 38 tackles. The Seahawks returned to the Super Bowl in 2015, but lost to the New England Patriots.
Oakland Raiders
In 2015, Malcolm Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders. He became a starting weakside linebacker for the team. He had a career-high 122 tackles that season. He also had four sacks and an interception. In 2016, he continued as a starter, making 103 tackles and another interception.
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San Francisco 49ers
In 2017, Smith signed a five-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. However, he suffered a serious pectoral muscle injury during training camp. This injury kept him from playing the entire 2017 season. He returned in 2018, playing in 12 games and making 35 tackles. He was released by the 49ers in 2019.
Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys
Later in 2019, Smith briefly played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He appeared in two games before being released. He then signed with the Dallas Cowboys for the last two games of the season. He made five tackles for the Cowboys.
Cleveland Browns
In 2020, Smith signed with the Cleveland Browns. He quickly made an impact, recording his first interception as a Brown in Week 3. He played in 15 games and made 72 tackles that season. He re-signed with the Browns in 2021. He played in 15 games again, making 51 tackles and two interceptions.
NFL Career Statistics
Malcolm Smith played in 134 NFL games during his career. He made a total of 518 tackles. He also had 7 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and 7 interceptions. He scored 2 defensive touchdowns.
Personal Life
Malcolm Smith's brother, Steve Smith, also played in the NFL as a wide receiver. He played for teams like the New York Giants.
Malcolm Smith has a rare health condition called achalasia. This condition affects his esophagus, making it hard for food to move to his stomach. He had surgery to help with this, but he still has to eat very slowly.
