Bob Smith (defensive back, born 1925)

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Bob Smith
Washington Redskins
)
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Offensive yards:246
Interceptions:33
Touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com

James Robert "Bob" Smith (August 20, 1925 – March 1, 2002) was an

Chicago Hornets (1949). Smith played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1943, 1945), the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks (1944), and the Iowa Hawkeyes
(1946–1947).

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

1947 NFL Draft.[1] He did not sign with the Redskins, instead opting in January 1948 to sign with the Buffalo Bills of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), reportedly for $8,500.[2] Smith appeared in only three games for the Bills,[1] as he was traded by the Bills to the Brooklyn Dodgers in exchange for Al Akins.[3] He appeared in 10 games for the Dodgers, intercepted three passes, had a 58-yard punt, the longest in the AAFC during the 1948 season.[1]

In July 1949, Smith signed with the

Chicago Hornets of the AAFC.[4] He appeared in three games with the Hornets during their 1949 season.[1]

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).

United Press and a second-team All Pro by the Associated Press. He was also invited to play in the 1953 Pro Bowl.[1]

Later years

Smith died in Flower Mound, Texas, in 2002 at age 76.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bob Smith". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. ^ "Hawks' Smith Gets Pro Pact". The Des Moines Register. January 15, 1948. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Buffalo-Brooklyn Trade". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 16, 1948. p. 15D – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Bob Smith, Former Iowa Gridder, Signs With Chicago Hornets". The Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette. July 14, 1949. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Lions Ask Waivers on 5 Players: Acquire Redskin Back". Detroit Free Press. September 20, 1949. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "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. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Reed rumbles 108 yards for NFL record | Longest interception returns by team". Pro Football Hall of Fame. November 24, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2014.