Dennis Smith (American football)

Last updated

Dennis Smith
No. 49
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1959-02-03) February 3, 1959 (age 65)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Santa Monica
College: USC
NFL draft: 1981  / Round: 1 / Pick: 15
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:30
INT yards:431
Sacks:15
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Dennis Smith (born February 3, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos from 1981 until 1994. Smith played college football for the USC Trojans.

Contents

High school career

Smith played high school football as a wide receiver and defensive back at Santa Monica High School (Samohi). He was the CIF Southern Section Co-Player of the Year in 1976. Dennis Smith was a great prospect who went on to be a Pro Bowl player. But at that time his standard as a player was to emulate Dennis Thurman, who had been such an outstanding player previously at Samohi in 1974 who also later starred at USC and Smith would eventually follow Thurman as a freshman to run track and play football at USC as a safety. Smith also ran on the track & field team at Santa Monica and broke the HS high jump record (which has since been eclipsed) in 1977. He was coached by Tebb Kusserow. who also coached number of other NFL players such as Dennis Thurman, Junior Thurman, Mel Kaufman, Pat O'Hara, Glyn Milburn, Sam Anno, Damone Johnson, and others notables such as actor Dean Cain. Smith has also been inducted into the Santa Monica High School Hall of Fame for athletes and has had his number "symbolically" retired by the school.

College career

Smith was a consensus All-America choice as a senior at University of Southern California in 1980. He played in two Rose Bowls for the Trojans. He played in a secondary which included three future NFL All-Pros: the San Francisco 49ers' Ronnie Lott and the Minnesota Vikings' Joey Browner in addition to himself. Smith was a consensus All-America choice as he lettered four times in football and three times in track. He posted 205 career tackles and 16 interceptions. He was inducted into the USC Ring of Fame in 2001. Smith played at Southern California (1977–1980) for John Robinson in a star-studded defensive backfield and is a member of the USC team that won the national championship in 1978.

Professional career

Smith established himself as one of the most feared and hardest hitting safeties in the NFL (a reputation later held by his protégé, Steve Atwater). Smith was voted to play in six Pro Bowls (following the 1985–1986, 1989–1991 and 1993 seasons), was named All-American Football Conference (AFC) in 1984 and 1988. He played on three Broncos Super Bowl teams (XXI, XXII, XXIV), and was named All-Pro four times.

Smith's career totals include 1,171 tackles, 30 interceptions and 15 sacks. He posted a career-high five interceptions in 1991. He ranks fourth all-time among Denver Broncos in games played with the franchise with 184. He is the Broncos' leading tackler of all time with 1,152 recorded tackles. [1]

Smith was named the Denver Broncos's most inspirational player in 1992. He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001 and the Colorado Hall of Fame in 2006. [2]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
1981 DEN 16445——0.016565.06500200
1982 DEN 8865——2.012929.02900000
1983 DEN 1413114——5.04399.82300000
1984 DEN 151592——1.03134.310001641
1985 DEN 131266——4.034615.33900000
1986 DEN 141488——1.0100.0000100
1987 DEN 6635——0.022110.51500200
1988 DEN 1111106——1.0000.0000200
1989 DEN 141482——0.027839.05000300
1990 DEN 1515110——0.011313.01300200
1991 DEN 1616110——0.056012.03900150
1992 DEN 1616120——0.04102.5800200
1993 DEN 141496——0.035719.03601000
1994 DEN 1212292361.0000.0000100
Career1841701,15823615.03043114.4650117691

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXIII</span> 1999 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Atlanta Falcons to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1998 season. The Broncos defeated the Falcons by the score of 34–19, winning their second consecutive Super Bowl, and becoming the first franchise to record consecutive Super Bowl victories & defeats. The game was played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Sam Adams is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors, and was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1994 NFL Draft. Following six seasons as a member of the Seahawks, he earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors during his two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Adams was also part of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV and made another championship appearance in his one season for the Oakland Raiders in 2002. As a member of the Buffalo Bills from 2003 to 2004, Adams was named to a third Pro Bowl. He spent his last two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Smith</span> American football player (born 1963)

Bruce Bernard Smith is an American former football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Virginia Tech, where he was a twice All-American, and was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1985 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Harrison</span> American football player and commentator (born 1972)

Rodney Scott Harrison is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Chargers, where he spent his first nine seasons, and was a member of the Patriots in his following six. Since leaving the NFL in 2009, he has served as a commentator for NBC's Football Night in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Polamalu</span> American football player and executive (born 1981)

Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 12-year career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). An eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro selection, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2020, his first year of eligibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Dawkins</span> American football player (born 1973)

Brian Patrick Dawkins Sr., nicknamed "Weapon X", is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft. In his last three seasons, he played for the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Reed</span> American football player (born 1964)

Andre Darnell Reed is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Kutztown and was selected by the Bills in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL draft with the 86th overall selection. Following 15 seasons with the Bills, where he earned Pro Bowl honors seven times, Reed spent his final season as a member of the Washington Redskins in 2000.

Stephen Dennis Atwater is an American former professional football player who spent most of his career playing free safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Atwater and Dennis Smith made up a Broncos secondary that was known for their ferocious hits on opposing players. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion. Atwater was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Browner</span> American football player (born 1960)

Joey Matthew Browner is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 to 1991 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. Browner played college football for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Norton Jr.</span> American football player and coach (born 1966)

Kenneth Howard Norton Jr. is an American football coach and former player who is the linebackers coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Norton played college football at UCLA and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He won three Super Bowls during his playing career with the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers before becoming a coach in 2004. Norton has served as an NFL defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. He is the son of former world champion heavyweight boxer Ken Norton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Smith (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1970)

Roderick Duane Smith is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Southern Lions. He was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent and played his entire career with the team. As of 2023's offseason, his 849 career receptions and 11,389 receiving yards ranked him 30th all-time for receptions and 34th for yards.

Timothy McDonald is an American former football safety who played for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). McDonald played college football for the USC Trojans, and was honored as a two-time All-American and two-time team most valuable player (MVP). A second-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, he played for the St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals (1987-1992) and the San Francisco 49ers (1993-1999). Upon the conclusion of his playing career, McDonald entered coaching, most recently serving as the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.

Mark Anthony Carrier III is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, where he won the Jim Thorpe Award. Carrier was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft.

Dennis Lee Thurman is an American football coach and former player. He is a former coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Memphis Express. He played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lynch (American football)</span> American football player and executive (born 1971)

John Terrence Lynch Jr. is an American football executive and former safety who is the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft, later winning Super Bowl XXXVII with them. Lynch also spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2008 and working as a color commentator for NFL on Fox games until being named general manager of the 49ers in 2017. He made nine Pro Bowls during his career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornell Green (defensive back)</span> American football player (born 1940)

Cornell M. Green, is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys on the National Football League (NFL). He did not play college football at Utah State University, but was a two-time All-American as a basketball player for the Aggies, selected in the 1962 NBA draft, but not in the NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Huff</span> American football player (born 1983)

Michael Wayne Huff II is a former American football safety. He played college football for the University of Texas and then played 8 years in the NFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders, who had drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. At Texas, he won a National Championship and was recognized as a unanimous All-American and the top college defensive back. In the NFL, he was 2nd Team All Pro in 2010. In his last NFL season, he played briefly for both the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos. As a Bronco, he was part of the team that suffered a loss at Super Bowl XLVIII, despite not playing in it. After retiring as a player, he returned to Texas as a coach.

Harald Hasselbach was a Dutch gridiron football player who was a defensive end in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played seven seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos from 1994 to 2000, winning two Super Bowls, including a start in Super Bowl XXXIII. Previously, he played four seasons for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, winning the 80th Grey Cup in 1992. He played college football for the Washington Huskies after attending high school near Vancouver. During his youth, he played a variety of sports while his family lived on four different continents. After retiring as a player, he became a high school football coach. He is the only Dutch player to have become a Super Bowl champion.

William Allen Thompson is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland State College and was inducted into the Hawk Hall of Fame in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Su'a Cravens</span> American football player (born 1995)

Su'a Kristopher Cravens is a former American football safety. He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "Denver Broncos Career Defense Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  2. ↑ "Broncos Legends: A look back through Dennis Smith's Broncos career".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.