68 Facts About Alex Smith

1.

Alex Smith played college football at Utah, where he received first-team All-American honors and won the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

FactSnippet No. 809,147
2.

Alex Smith struggled with consistency and injuries until 2011 when he led the 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002, along with their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1997.

FactSnippet No. 809,148
3.

The next year a concussion resulted in Alex Smith losing his starting position to backup Colin Kaepernick.

FactSnippet No. 809,149
4.

Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, who he guided to four playoff runs between 2013 and 2017, their first consecutive division titles in franchise history, and their first playoff victory since 1993 in the 2015 season.

FactSnippet No. 809,150
5.

Alex Smith received three Pro Bowl selections with the Chiefs and led the league in passer rating during his 2017 campaign.

FactSnippet No. 809,151
6.

Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins in 2018 to make way for Kansas City's second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but was considered instrumental in developing the future NFL MVP.

FactSnippet No. 809,152
7.

Alex Smith became Washington's starter midway through the season, leading the team to a division title and earning him NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

FactSnippet No. 809,153
8.

Alex Smith retired during the 2021 off-season after he was released by Washington.

FactSnippet No. 809,154
9.

Alex Smith's father, Douglas D Smith, was an executive director at Helix High School, which he attended.

FactSnippet No. 809,155
10.

Alex Smith was named to the first-team all-conference and all-county squads in the San Diego CIF system.

FactSnippet No. 809,156
11.

Alex Smith earned the conference offensive player of the year twice, and twice won the team MVP for Helix.

FactSnippet No. 809,157
12.

Alex Smith was president of his senior class in high school, earned college credits through a program with San Diego State University and took a dozen Advanced Placement tests.

FactSnippet No. 809,158
13.

Alex Smith attended the University of Utah and played for the Utah Utes, wearing number 11.

FactSnippet No. 809,159
14.

Alex Smith led the Utes to victories in the 2003 Liberty Bowl and the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

FactSnippet No. 809,160
15.

Alex Smith earned a bachelor's degree in economics in two years and began work on a master's degree before being drafted.

FactSnippet No. 809,161
16.

Alex Smith earned a score of 40 out of 50 on the Wonderlic exam.

FactSnippet No. 809,162
17.

Alex Smith was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, selected by the San Francisco 49ers.

FactSnippet No. 809,163
18.

Alex Smith spent the off-season working daily with his new coordinator, wide receivers and tight end, while working to improve his technique and add bulk.

FactSnippet No. 809,164
19.

Late in the quarter, with the same score, Alex Smith struck again – shaking off an almost certain sack, rolling to the left and completing a pass to Frank Gore for a touchdown to give the 49ers a 10-point lead.

FactSnippet No. 809,165
20.

Alex Smith became the first 49ers quarterback in club history to take every snap from center over the course of a season in 2006.

FactSnippet No. 809,166
21.

Alex Smith entered the 2007 season learning under a third offensive coordinator in three seasons.

FactSnippet No. 809,167
22.

Alex Smith suffered a grade-three separation and the initial diagnosis was that surgery would not be required.

FactSnippet No. 809,168
23.

Alex Smith was at odds with 49ers head coach Mike Nolan over the severity of his injury.

FactSnippet No. 809,169
24.

Nolan publicly implied that Alex Smith was not fighting through the injury, while Alex Smith felt that the injury still affected his ability to throw accurately, an account that was supported by players from the Seahawks.

FactSnippet No. 809,170
25.

Alex Smith lost the starting job in training camp to O'Sullivan, who was elevated to starting quarterback, partly due to his familiarity with Martz's offense when he was a member of the Detroit Lions.

FactSnippet No. 809,171
26.

Alex Smith took a considerable pay cut to remain with the 49ers, with whom he would be under contract for the next two years.

FactSnippet No. 809,172
27.

Alex Smith was to make $4 million a season in 2009 and 2010, in addition to base salaries that were not immediately made known.

FactSnippet No. 809,173
28.

Under Johnson, Alex Smith was expected to run a variation of the spread offense that he ran in college.

FactSnippet No. 809,174
29.

In Week 5, Alex Smith was booed at home and the crowd chanted for his backup, David Carr, before leading the 49ers to two scoring drives to close within three points.

FactSnippet No. 809,175
30.

Alex Smith suffered an injured shoulder in the 49ers week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers and was not available to play Week 8 against the Denver Broncos in London.

FactSnippet No. 809,176
31.

Alex Smith was replaced by Troy Smith, who had 14 games of experience in the NFL before joining the 49ers organization just before the start of the regular season.

FactSnippet No. 809,177
32.

Troy Alex Smith took Alex Smith's position after winning two straight games against the St Louis Rams and the Denver Broncos.

FactSnippet No. 809,178
33.

Alex Smith would start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 in a game the 49ers needed to win to stay in contention in the NFC West.

FactSnippet No. 809,179
34.

Alex Smith acknowledged that his performances needed to be more consistent.

FactSnippet No. 809,180
35.

Alex Smith was booed by the Candlestick crowd after the first two plays.

FactSnippet No. 809,181
36.

Alex Smith was named the starting quarterback heading into the regular season, and Harbaugh believed Alex Smith could succeed in the coach's West Coast offense.

FactSnippet No. 809,182
37.

Alex Smith threw a league-low 5 interceptions in 2011, breaking a 49ers franchise record, and setting yet another personal single-season best in fewest passes intercepted per attempt with a 1.

FactSnippet No. 809,183
38.

Alex Smith threw for 299 yards, three touchdown passes, and no interceptions while rushing for an additional touchdown.

FactSnippet No. 809,184
39.

Alex Smith led touchdown drives of 80 and 85 yards in the final 4:02.

FactSnippet No. 809,185
40.

Alex Smith scored on a 28-yard touchdown run, and he threw a game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with nine seconds remaining, eschewing a more conservative open receiver that would have settled for a field goal and a tie.

FactSnippet No. 809,186
41.

Alex Smith was chosen by teammates as winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, annually awarded to the player that exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.

FactSnippet No. 809,187
42.

Alex Smith made the USA Today All-Joe Team, an award which is given to the best players not to make the Pro Bowl.

FactSnippet No. 809,188
43.

The 49ers were reported to be interested in signing Peyton Manning, who had just been released by the rebuilding Indianapolis Colts, leading Alex Smith to visit the Miami Dolphins, reportedly with the intent to sign with the Dolphins if the 49ers signed Manning.

FactSnippet No. 809,189
44.

Shortly after Manning made the decision to join the Denver Broncos, Alex Smith signed a three-year contract worth $24 million to remain with the 49ers.

FactSnippet No. 809,190
45.

Alex Smith began the 2012 season as the 49ers' starting quarterback.

FactSnippet No. 809,191
46.

Harbaugh stated that Alex Smith had been more of a coach to Kaepernick later into the 2012 season than even he was.

FactSnippet No. 809,192
47.

Alex Smith was named to the USA Today All Joe Team for the second year in a row, and was named the captain of the team.

FactSnippet No. 809,193
48.

Alex Smith was 17 of 20, with 287 yards and 5 touchdowns, four of them going to Jamaal Charles, in a victory over the Oakland Raiders.

FactSnippet No. 809,194
49.

Alex Smith threw four touchdowns, completing 30 of his 46 pass attempts for 378 yards and no interceptions, while carrying the ball 8 times for 57 yards.

FactSnippet No. 809,195
50.

Alex Smith was elected to his first Pro Bowl at the end of the season as a replacement for Tom Brady.

FactSnippet No. 809,196
51.

Alex Smith threw for 190 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the victory over the Texans.

FactSnippet No. 809,197
52.

Alex Smith rushed five times for 27 yards, and had a 64-yard scramble, which was called back due to a holding penalty.

FactSnippet No. 809,198
53.

Alex Smith was named team MVP for 2015 alongside safety Eric Berry.

FactSnippet No. 809,199
54.

Alex Smith rushed 84 times for 498 yards, two touchdowns, and an average of 5.

FactSnippet No. 809,200
55.

Alex Smith won the game in overtime with a two-yard rushing touchdown.

FactSnippet No. 809,201
56.

Alex Smith helped lead the Chiefs to the postseason, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round.

FactSnippet No. 809,202
57.

Alex Smith was ranked 81st by his fellow players, for the second consecutive year, on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

FactSnippet No. 809,203
58.

Alex Smith's 368 passing yards and four passing touchdowns were both the second most in a game in his career.

FactSnippet No. 809,204
59.

Alex Smith was named an alternate for the Pro Bowl, eventually replacing the injured Philip Rivers.

FactSnippet No. 809,205
60.

Alex Smith was credited as being instrumental in the development of Mahomes.

FactSnippet No. 809,206
61.

Alex Smith subsequently signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with them.

FactSnippet No. 809,207
62.

Alex Smith was placed on the team's physically unable to perform reserve list in 2019, missing the entire season.

FactSnippet No. 809,208
63.

Alex Smith joined ESPN in August 2021 to serve as an NFL analyst for SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown, among other programs for the network.

FactSnippet No. 809,209
64.

Alex Smith has a brother, Josh, and two sisters, Abbey and MacKenzie.

FactSnippet No. 809,210
65.

In 2014, Alex Smith was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree by the University of Utah, where he delivered the commencement speech for the graduating class.

FactSnippet No. 809,211
66.

Alex Smith married former Oakland Raiders cheerleader Elizabeth Barry in 2009.

FactSnippet No. 809,212
67.

Since recovering from his injury, Alex Smith has participated in a number of inspirational speaking events including TED, American Bankers Association's Emerging Leaders Forum, and to the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team.

FactSnippet No. 809,213
68.

Alex Smith has partnered with brands including Oofos Recovery Footwear and clothing brands like Linksoul and Attitude is Free, the latter of which he created his Just Live collection.

FactSnippet No. 809,214