Steve Smith Sr.

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Smith's journey to the NFL started at Santa Monica College, where he was teammates with future NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson. Santa Monica's head coach, Robert Taylor, encouraged Smith to play for a scholarship to a Division-I school rather than for riches or fame. Smith took that advice to heart, not missing a single day of classes. He transferred to the University of Utah, where he set a record for yards per catch with a 20.6 average. In his first season at Utah, he ranked 4th in the NCAA in both punt return yards (495) and yards per return (17.1). After the Blue–Gray All-Star game on December 25, 2000, Smith began to receive attention from NFL scouts. He was named offensive MVP of the January 13, 2001, East–West Shrine Game. Smith finished his time at Utah with 78 receptions for 1,608 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus 1,365 return yards and 4 touchdowns on special teams.

In Their Own Story

In his first play as a professional, Smith returned the opening kickoff of the first game of the 2001 season for a touchdown. The Panthers finished 1–15 that year, but Smith was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and earned first team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. In 2002, he led the NFL with 55 punt returns and two punt return touchdowns. During the 2003 season, Smith helped lead the Panthers to their first NFC title. In the NFC divisional playoffs, he caught a 69-yard pass and ran it for a touchdown in the second overtime period to defeat the St. Louis Rams 29–23. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, he caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 32–29 loss to the New England Patriots. After suffering a broken leg in the 2004 season opener, Smith came back in 2005 to have the best season of his career. He earned the "Triple Crown" of receiving, leading the NFL in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563), and receiving touchdowns (12), becoming only the third player after Jerry Rice (1990) and Sterling Sharpe (1992) to accomplish this in the Super Bowl era. In the 2005 playoffs, Smith set a franchise record with 12 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns in a divisional round win over the Chicago Bears.

Reader's Guide

Smith's 2005 season stands as one of the most efficient in NFL history. He became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions despite being on a team ranked 28th in pass attempts. In 2008, Smith became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards per game despite being on an offense that was last in pass attempts. That same year, he produced the highest yards per team pass attempt in the modern era (4.03) and holds the NFL record for highest yards per route run (3.87). Smith's postseason dominance is unmatched: he holds the NFL record for the highest career receiving yards per game average (91.0) among players with a minimum of 10 playoff games. At the time of his retirement, Smith ranked seventh in NFL career all-purpose yards (19,180), seventh in career receiving yards (14,731), twelfth in career receptions (1,031), and 26th in receiving touchdowns (81). He amassed 89 total touchdowns in the regular season and 100 including the postseason.

Did You Know?

• Smith is tied for 5th all-time in 100-yard receiving games with 51, alongside Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens.
• In 2002, Smith attacked practice squad player Anthony Bright during a film session, resulting in a misdemeanor assault charge and a one-game suspension.
• Smith set a record at the University of Utah for yards per catch with a 20.6 average.
• In his first play as a professional, Smith returned the opening kickoff of the first game of the 2001 season for a touchdown.
• Smith holds the NFL record for highest career receiving yards per game average in the postseason (91.0) among players with a minimum of 10 playoff games.