History of Alex Smith in Timeline
Alexander Douglas Smith is a retired American football quarterback who had a 16-season career in the NFL. He rose to prominence playing college football for the Utah Utes, earning All-American recognition and leading his team to victory in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. His stellar college performance led to him being the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
1985: Theismann's Injury
In 1985, Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suffered a career-ending leg fracture in a game, an event that drew parallels to Alex Smith's injury 33 years later.
1989: Wearing Throwback Jerseys
The 49ers wore throwback jerseys from the 1989 team during their game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 5, 2006.
1993: Breaking the Chiefs' Playoff Victory Drought
In the 2015 season, Alex Smith led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first playoff victory since 1993.
1997: Reaching the NFC Championship
Alex Smith led the 49ers to their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1997.
1997: Franchise Record for Wins
The 49ers' 13 wins in the 2011 season were their most since 1997, despite having the 29th ranked passing offense in the league.
2002: Breaking the 49ers' Drought
Alex Smith led the 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002.
2003: Victory in the Liberty Bowl
In 2003, Alex Smith led the Utah Utes to victory in the Liberty Bowl.
2004: Mountain West Conference Player of the Year
Alex Smith was named the 2004 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year during his college football career at the University of Utah.
2004: Heisman Trophy Finalist and High School Success
In 2004, Alex Smith and his Helix High School teammate Reggie Bush were finalists for the Heisman Trophy, marking the first time a high school had two finalists at the same ceremony.
July 2005: Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
In July 2005, Alex Smith signed a six-year, $49.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers after being selected as the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft.
2005: Reggie Bush Wins the Heisman Trophy
Alex Smith's high school teammate, Reggie Bush, went on to win the 2005 Heisman Trophy.
2005: Fiesta Bowl Victory and College Success
In 2005, Alex Smith led the Utah Utes to victory in the Fiesta Bowl, capping off a successful college football career.
2005: Implementing Elements of the West Coast Offense
Jim Hostler's offensive system in 2007 involved elements of the West Coast Offense installed by Mike McCarthy for the 2005 season.
November 5, 2006: Meeting Joe Montana and Upsetting the Vikings
On November 5, 2006, Alex Smith met Joe Montana for the first time during a game against the Minnesota Vikings, where the 49ers wore throwback jerseys from the 1989 team. The 49ers went on to win 9-3.
2006: Improved Performance and Franchise Record
Alex Smith showed improvement in his second year with the San Francisco 49ers, throwing for 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He became the first 49ers quarterback to take every snap from center over the course of a season.
2006: Improved Offensive Support for Smith
Going into the 2006 season, the San Francisco 49ers drafted tight end Vernon Davis and traded running back Kevan Barlow to make Frank Gore the feature back, providing Alex Smith with an improved set of offensive weapons.
2006: Upsetting the Denver Broncos
In their final game of the 2006 season, the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos, knocking them out of playoff contention.
October 28, 2007: Return from Shoulder Injury
Alex Smith returned to the 49ers' starting lineup on October 28, 2007, after missing three games due to a shoulder injury.
December 11, 2007: Shoulder Surgery and End of Season
On December 11, 2007, Alex Smith was placed on injured reserve to undergo shoulder surgery, ending his season.
2007: New Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Targets
Alex Smith entered the 2007 season with his third offensive coordinator in three seasons, Jim Hostler. The 49ers added new offensive targets for Smith, including wide receivers Darrell Jackson, Ashley Lelie, and rookie Jason Hill.
2007: Competition and Coaching Change
In 2007, Alex Smith competed with Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan for the 49ers' starting quarterback position. He trained under his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, Mike Martz, who brought a completely different system. Smith lost the starting job to O'Sullivan, partly due to O'Sullivan's familiarity with Martz's offense.
2007: Establishment of the Alex Smith Foundation
In 2007, Alex Smith founded the Alex Smith Foundation and the Alex Smith Guardian Scholars Program.
October 20, 2008: Coaching Change and Contract Renegotiation
Following the firing of coach Nolan, the 49ers showed interest in keeping Smith for the 2009 season if he agreed to renegotiate his contract.
2008: Foundation Gains Recognition
Between 2008 and 2010, the Alex Smith Foundation earned praise for its efficient use of funds, with a significant portion going directly to scholarships and grants.
2008: Coaching and Offensive Changes
Mike Singletary was appointed head coach, and Jimmy Raye II was hired as the new offensive coordinator, marking Smith's fifth coordinator in five seasons. This followed the firing of previous offensive coordinator, Mike Martz.
March 10, 2009: Contract Restructure
On March 10, 2009, Smith's contract was successfully restructured, and he remained with the 49ers. He took a significant pay cut to stay with the team for two more years.
2009: Marriage to Elizabeth Barry
Alex Smith married Elizabeth Barry, a former cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders, in 2009.
2009: Injury and Contract Uncertainty
Early in 2009, the 49ers placed Smith on injured reserve due to a broken shoulder bone, believed to be from a previous surgery. The team's general manager, Scot McCloughan, indicated that they expected to release Smith before the start of the 2009 season due to his high salary.
December 12, 2010: Performance and Fan Reaction
On December 12, 2010, Smith faced criticism from 49ers fans during a game against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite initial boos, he led the team to a 40-21 victory.
2010: Contract Details
As part of his restructured contract, Smith's salary was set at $4 million per season for 2009 and 2010.
2010: Foundation's Impact Highlighted
By 2010, the Alex Smith Foundation was recognized for its positive impact, having raised a substantial amount of money and allocated a large percentage to support its programs.
2010: Sporting News Recognition
In 2010, Smith was recognized by Sporting News as the 11th-smartest athlete in sports.
2010: Starting Role, Coaching Change, and Team Captaincy
Smith started the 2010 season as the 49ers' starting quarterback. However, after an 0-5 start, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II was replaced by Mike Johnson. Smith was also named one of the team's captains.
2011: Free Agency and Return to the 49ers
In 2011, Alex Smith became a free agent and explored options with other teams, including the Miami Dolphins, due to the 49ers' interest in Peyton Manning. However, after Manning signed with the Denver Broncos, Smith re-signed with the 49ers on a three-year contract.
2011: Leading the 49ers to Success
In 2011, Alex Smith led the San Francisco 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002, as well as their first NFC Championship game appearance since 1997.
2011: Career Year and Passing Statistics
In 2011, Smith had a career year, setting personal bests in numerous passing categories, including attempts (445), completions (273), completion percentage (61.3%), passing yards (3,144), yards per attempt (7.1), passer rating (90.7), and total touchdowns (19). He also threw a league-low 5 interceptions.
2011: Breakthrough Season and Playoff Berth
In the 2011 season, Smith led the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record, earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. This marked Smith's first playoff appearance after seven seasons with the 49ers.
2011: New Coaching Staff and Contract
The 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach and Greg Roman as offensive coordinator. Smith was welcomed back to the team and signed a one-year, $5 million contract. Despite family urging him to leave San Francisco, Smith stayed and was named starting quarterback.
2012: Transition to a Mentoring Role
Despite losing his starting position to Kaepernick, Smith remained a supportive teammate and took on a mentoring role, guiding Kaepernick. He received recognition for his performance and leadership, being named to the USA Today All Joe Team and captain.
2012: Competition and Quarterback Controversy
The 2012 season saw Alex Smith begin as the 49ers' starting quarterback. However, after suffering a concussion, he was replaced by Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick's performance led to a quarterback controversy, and despite Smith's impressive statistics and recovery, Kaepernick retained the starting position.
February 27, 2013: Trade to the Kansas City Chiefs
On February 27, 2013, the San Francisco 49ers traded Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for draft picks, marking a new chapter in his career.
December 15, 2013: Perfect Passer Rating
On December 15, 2013, Alex Smith achieved a perfect passer rating for the first and only time in his career, showcasing his accuracy and decision-making abilities. He threw for 287 yards and 5 touchdowns in a victory against the Oakland Raiders.
2013: Success with the Kansas City Chiefs
Between 2013 and 2017, Alex Smith guided the Kansas City Chiefs to four playoff runs.
January 4, 2014: AFC Wild Card Loss
On January 4, 2014, Alex Smith and the Chiefs faced Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card Round. Despite Smith throwing four touchdowns, the Chiefs suffered a narrow 45-44 defeat.
August 31, 2014: Contract Extension with the Chiefs
On August 31, 2014, Alex Smith signed a four-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, solidifying his position as their starting quarterback.
2014: Conditional Pick in Trade
As part of the trade agreement between the 49ers and the Chiefs, a conditional pick in the 2014 NFL draft was included, highlighting the value placed on Smith's potential.
2014: Honorary Doctorate and Commencement Speech
In 2014, Alex Smith received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Utah. He also gave the commencement address to the graduating class.
2015: Leading the Chiefs to a Historic Playoff Victory
In 2015, Alex Smith led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first playoff victory since 1993.
2016: Record-Breaking Comeback and Career-High Statistics
In 2016, Smith led the Chiefs to the largest comeback win in their history, overcoming a 24-3 deficit against the San Diego Chargers. He also set career highs in passing yards and rushing touchdowns, showcasing his versatility.
2016: NFL Top 100 Recognition and Best Looking Quarterback Title
Smith's strong performances earned him recognition as the 81st best player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 list. He was also humorously awarded the title of "best looking quarterback" by Sports Illustrated.
2017: Continued Recognition and NFL Top 100 Ranking
Alex Smith's consistent performances earned him recognition from his peers, as he was ranked 81st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 list for the second consecutive year.
2017: Leading the League in Passer Rating and Pro Bowl Selections
In 2017, Alex Smith led the league in passer rating and received three Pro Bowl selections with the Kansas City Chiefs.
2017: Mentoring Patrick Mahomes and Career Highs
In 2017, Smith played a significant role in mentoring Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick. He also achieved career highs in passing yards and touchdowns, showcasing his continued development. He was recognized as an alternate for the Pro Bowl.
January 30, 2018: Trade to Washington Redskins
On January 30, 2018, Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
November 18, 2018: Severe Leg Injury
On November 18, 2018, during a game against the Houston Texans, Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury. He broke both his tibia and fibula in his right leg after being sacked.
2018: Trade to the Washington Redskins and Mentoring Patrick Mahomes
In 2018, Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins to make way for Patrick Mahomes. He was credited with helping develop the future NFL MVP.
2019: Sidelined Due to Injury
Alex Smith missed the entire 2019 NFL season as he recovered from his leg injury.
May 2020: "Project 11" Documentary Release
In May 2020, ESPN aired "Project 11," a documentary chronicling Alex Smith's recovery from his severe leg injury.
July 2020: Cleared for Football Activities
In July 2020, Alex Smith received clearance from his doctors to resume football activities, a significant milestone in his recovery.
August 16, 2020: Return to Active Roster
On August 16, 2020, Alex Smith was activated from the physically unable to perform list, marking his return to the Washington Redskins' active roster.
2020: Comeback Player of the Year and Leading Washington to a Division Title
In 2020, Alex Smith returned to football after a career-threatening leg injury and became Washington's starting quarterback midway through the season. He led the team to a division title and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
March 5, 2021: Waived by Washington
On March 5, 2021, the Washington Football Team waived Alex Smith.
April 19, 2021: Retirement Announcement
Alex Smith announced his retirement from professional football on April 19, 2021.
August 2021: Joins ESPN as Analyst
In August 2021, Alex Smith joined ESPN as an NFL analyst, lending his expertise to shows like SportsCenter and Monday Night Countdown.
2021: Retirement from the NFL
Alex Smith retired from the NFL during the 2021 offseason after being released by Washington.
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