Rod Smith (wide receiver)

Rod Smith

Smith in September 2012
No. 80
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1970-05-15) May 15, 1970 (age 55) Texarkana, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Arkansas (Texarkana)
College:	Missouri Southern (1988–1993)
NFL draft:	1994: undrafted
Career history
Denver Broncos (1994–2007)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2000, 2001) 3× Pro Bowl (2000, 2001, 2005) NFL receptions leader (2001) Denver Broncos Hall of Fame Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team First-team DII All-American (1993) 2× First-team All-MIAA (1992, 1993) Missouri Southern Lions No. 9 retired
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 849 Receiving yards: 11,389 Receiving touchdowns: 68 Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Roderick Duane Smith

At Arkansas Senior High School in Texarkana, Arkansas, Smith lettered two years in football and basketball, and one year in baseball. As a senior in football, he was All-League, All-Area, and All-State. Outside of football Rod Smith has three kids (Roderick Smith Jr., Devin Smith, and Vanessa Webb). He is a business entrepreneur as he has expressed in many interviews. Some of these have featured his kids speaking about their father's accomplishments on and off the field.

Smith enjoyed a stellar career at Missouri Southern State University, finishing with conference records in career receiving yards (3,043) and touchdowns (34). He also broke the school's reception record (153), and was named first-team All-America by AP, Kodak, Football Gazette and NCAA Division II sports information directors after his senior year. In his final season, Smith caught 63 passes for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given annually to the top football player at the Division II level. He was named Missouri Southern's Outstanding Graduate in 1994 after completing his collegiate studies with three degrees, in economics and finance, general business, as well as marketing and management.^[3]

After the

A hip injury that he suffered in 2006 required a complete hip replacement. On December 28, 2007, it was revealed that Smith needed another hip surgery, possibly ending his career.^[5] He was placed on the reserve/retired list on February 15, 2008, and announced his formal retirement from professional football on July 24, 2008, in a press conference at the team's Dove Valley headquarters.

Smith finished his career as the Broncos all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), and touchdown receptions (68).^[6] Also an accomplished punt returner, Smith returned 53 punts for 647 yards and a touchdown. His 12.2 yards per return average ranked him 2nd all time among Broncos players with at least 50 punt returns.^[7] With two Super Bowls, three Pro Bowls, and a controversy-free career noted for professionalism, Smith left the Broncos as one of the most well-loved players of all time. In May 2012 it was announced that he would be inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in his first year of eligibility for the honor. The induction ceremony took place on Sunday, Sep 23, at halftime of the Broncos' home game against the Houston Texans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

• First undrafted player to reach 10,000 receiving yards, and the 24th in history to eclipse that figure.
• Retired with the most receptions (849) receiving yards (11,389) and touchdown receptions (68) of any undrafted player in NFL history. Surpassed in all three categories by Antonio Gates.
• Currently ranks second in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by an undrafted player, and third in receptions.
• Holds Broncos franchise records in career receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
• Ranks first on Denver's all-time yards from scrimmage list.
• Only the sixth player in NFL history to have 100 receptions against at least 3 teams (Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders).
• AFC Offensive Player of the Week (week 15; 12/17/05 against the Buffalo Bills at Buffalo).
• Associated Press second-team All-Pro (2000, 2001).
• Football Digest first-team All-Pro (2000, 2001).
• USA Today first-team All-Pro (2000).
• College and Pro Newsweekly first-team All-Pro (2000).
• Pro Football Weekly All-AFC (2000, 2001).
• Division II Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2008)
• College Football Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2009)
• Denver Broncos Ring of Fame (Inducted in 2012)

As of 2023^[update]'s NFL off-season, Rod Smith held at least 11 Broncos franchise records, including:

• Receptions: career (849), season (113 in 2001)
• Receiving Yds: career (11,389), playoffs (860)
• Receiving TDs: career (68), playoffs (6)
• Total TDs: career (71)
• Yds from Scrimmage: career (11,737)
• All Purpose Yds: career (12,488)
• Games with 1+ TD scored: career (66)
• Seasons with 1000+ receiving yards: career (8)