Dwight Smith (American football)

Last updated

Dwight Smith
No. 26, 24
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1978-08-13) August 13, 1978 (age 45)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Central (Detroit)
College: Akron
NFL Draft: 2001  / Round: 3 / Pick: 84
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:477
Interceptions:22
Forced fumbles:10
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Dwight L. Smith (born August 13, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Akron Zips, earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and he also played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. [1] Smith earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Contents

Early years

Smith was born in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Central High School in Detroit, and played high school football for the Central Trailblazers.

College career

He attended the University of Akron, where he played for the Akron Zips football team from 1997 to 2000. As a senior in 2000, he had 10 interceptions and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at defensive back along with being a finalist for the Thorpe Award. [2]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(1.77 m)		212 lb
(96 kg)		29+1⁄2 in
(0.75 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		4.57 s1.65 s2.65 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		15 reps
All values from NFL Combine [3]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith began his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001 to 2004. Smith's career highlight came in the Bucs' 48–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, in which Smith intercepted two passes from quarterback Rich Gannon, returning both for touchdowns. He was the first player ever to score 2 touchdowns on interception returns in Super Bowl history.

New Orleans Saints

Before the 2005 season he signed with the New Orleans Saints and played for them for a season. He was released in July 2006, after failed attempts to trade him.

Minnesota Vikings

Smith signed a three-year deal with the Vikings in July 2006. On February 20, 2008, the Vikings released him.

Detroit Lions

On February 27, 2008, he signed with the Detroit Lions. He received $5 million over 2 years. The deal reunited Smith with Lions' head coach Rod Marinelli and defensive coordinator Joe Barry, both of whom were assistants on the Tampa Bay staff when the veteran safety spent the first four seasons of his NFL career as a standout Bucs' defender.

Smith was released by the Lions on February 9, 2009.

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2001 TAM 150282350.00000031200
2002 TAM 162444130.0243903581000
2003 TAM 16167462120.015303101000
2004 TAM 16168675110.03313013133000
2005 NOR 15157363101.0825302872000
2006 MIN 15147963161.0448104771150
2007 MIN 1413524570.02411219391000
2008 DET 107413380.01000020100
11783477405722.021223011935910450

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2001 TAM 101100.00000000000
2002 TAM 31121200.00310025030100
41131300.00310025030100

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</span> National Football League franchise in Tampa, Florida

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, and played its first season in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Prior to the 1977 season, Tampa Bay switched conferences and divisions with Seattle, becoming a member of the NFC Central division. As a result of the league's realignment prior to the 2002 season, the Buccaneers joined three former NFC West teams to form the NFC South. The club is owned by the Glazer family and plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXVII</span> 2003 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2002 season. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders by the score of 48–21, tied with Super Bowl XXXV for the seventh-largest Super Bowl margin of victory, winning their first-ever Super Bowl,. The game was played on January 26, 2003, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Gannon</span> American football player (born 1965)

Richard Joseph Gannon is an American former football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Subsequently, he was a sports commentator with CBS Sports for 16 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronde Barber</span> American football player (born 1975)

Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 16-year career as a cornerback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the identical twin brother of Tiki Barber, a former running back for the New York Giants. Barber grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, earning third-team All-American honors twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Brooks</span> American football player and executive (born 1973)

Derrick Dewan Brooks is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for his entire 14-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning consensus All-American honors twice. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro, Brooks was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 en route to winning the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII. Following his retirement, Brooks served as co-owner and president of the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2011 to 2017. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Brian Patrick Kelly is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Johnson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1968)

James Bradley Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), Johnson played for the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Dallas Cowboys. He is best known for his time with the Buccaneers, whom he led to their Super Bowl XXXVII title over the Oakland Raiders.

<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 professional football executive and former player who is the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the NFL as a safety for 15 seasons, primarily with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Jermaine Phillips is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.

Ellis Rashad Wyms is a former American football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State.

This article details the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise.

The 2002 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 27th in the National Football League (NFL). It was one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, ending with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Ayers</span> American football player (born 1985)

Robert Ayers is a former American football defensive end that played 10 years in the NFL. He played college football at Tennessee and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also played for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lavonte David</span> American football player (born 1990)

Lavonte Lamar David is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Nebraska, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Since entering the NFL, David has been named to three All-Pro teams, one Pro Bowl appearance and won Super Bowl LV during the 2020 season, in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Evans (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Michael Lynn Evans III is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Evans played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors after recording a school record of 1,394 receiving yards on 69 receptions, and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Buccaneers–Saints rivalry is the rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. While the teams first met in 1977, the rivalry did not develop until the teams were placed in the NFC South in 2002, resulting in two annual meetings. The Saints lead the overall series, 39–25. The two teams have met in the playoffs once, in the 2020 NFC Divisional Round, which the Buccaneers won, 30–20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Godwin</span> American football player (born 1996)

Rod Christopher Godwin Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and was selected by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin White</span> American football player (born 1998)

Devin Marcel White is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Buccaneers fifth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl championship in the 2020 season in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Murphy-Bunting</span> American football player (born 1997)

Sean Murphy-Bunting is an American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Central Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season</span> 45th season in franchise history; second Super Bowl appearance and win

The 2020 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 45th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Bruce Arians. The club acquired long-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and traded for Brady's former Patriots teammate, tight end Rob Gronkowski during the offseason. They improved on their 7–9 record from the previous season by finishing 11–5 to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 – though 10 of their 11 wins were against non-playoff teams. They advanced through the playoffs to reach and win Super Bowl LV. They were the first team only having one Pro Bowler to do so since the 2007 Giants, and the first team to play in and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium, Raymond James Stadium. They were the 7th wild card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, as well as the fifth team to win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and 1985 New England Patriots.

References

  1. ↑ "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  2. ↑ 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ "2001 NFL Draft Scout Dwight Smith College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
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.