Bob Smith (defensive back, born 1925)
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James Robert "Bob" Smith (August 20, 1925 – March 1, 2002) was an
Early years
Smith was born in Ranger, Texas, in 1925.[1]
College football
Smith played college football for the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Iowa Hawkeyes (1946–1947).
Professional football
Smith was selected by the
In July 1949, Smith signed with the
Shortly before the start of the 1949 NFL season, the Detroit Lions acquired NFL rights to Smith from the Redskins.[5] Smith signed with the Lions, left the Hornets, and appeared in all 12 games with the Lions during the 1949 season.[1] In his first NFL season, he ranked among the league leaders with nine interceptions (fourth) and 218 interception return yards (third).[1] On Thanksgiving Day 1949, he set an NFL record with a 102-yard return after intercepting a Sid Luckman pass in the end zone during a 28-7 loss to the Chicago Bears.[6] Smith's interception return against the Bears remains the Lions record for longest interception return.[7]
Smith spent the remainder of his football career with the Lions, remaining through the 1954 season and playing on NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953. During the Lions' 1952 championship season, Smith recorded nine interceptions (third best in the NFL) and 184 interception return yards (third in the NFL).
Later years
Smith died in Flower Mound, Texas, in 2002 at age 76.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bob Smith". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "Hawks' Smith Gets Pro Pact". The Des Moines Register. January 15, 1948. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buffalo-Brooklyn Trade". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 16, 1948. p. 15D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bob Smith, Former Iowa Gridder, Signs With Chicago Hornets". The Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette. July 14, 1949. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lions Ask Waivers on 5 Players: Acquire Redskin Back". Detroit Free Press. September 20, 1949. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ex-Iowan Runs 102: Bob Smith of Detroit Sets Loop Mark As Bears Triumph, 28-7". The Des Moines Register. November 25, 1949. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Reed rumbles 108 yards for NFL record | Longest interception returns by team". Pro Football Hall of Fame. November 24, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2014.