View source for Rod Smith (wide receiver)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1970)}}
{{For|the defensive back|Rod Smith (defensive back)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Rod Smith
| image         = Rod Smith (American football).JPG
| caption       = Smith in September 2012
| number        = 80
| position      = [[Wide receiver]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1970|05|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Texarkana, Arkansas]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 0
| weight_lb     = 200
| high_school   = [[Arkansas High School|Arkansas]] (Texarkana)
| college       = [[Missouri Southern Lions football|Missouri Southern]] (1988–1993)
| undraftedyear = 1994
| pastteams     = * [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1994|2007}})
| highlights    = * 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXXII|XXXII]], [[Super Bowl XXXIII|XXXIII]])
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2000 All-Pro Team|2000]], [[2001 All-Pro Team|2001]])
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]], [[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]], [[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]])
* [[List of NFL annual receptions leaders|NFL receptions leader]] (2001)
* [[Denver Broncos|Denver Broncos Hall of Fame]]
* [[Denver Broncos#50th Anniversary Team|Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team]]
* First-team DII [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] (1993)
* 2× First-team All-[[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association|MIAA]] (1992, 1993)
* [[Missouri Southern Lions football#Retired numbers|Missouri Southern Lions No. 9]] retired
| statlabel1    = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue1    = 849
| statlabel2    = Receiving yards
| statvalue2    = 11,389
| statlabel3    = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3    = 68
| pfr           = SmitRo01
| CollegeHOF    = 2231
}}

'''Roderick Duane Smith'''<ref>{{cite web | title=ESPN Profile | work= ESPN.com | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/866
}}</ref> (born May 15, 1970) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] for 14 seasons with the [[Denver Broncos]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Missouri Southern Lions football|Missouri Southern Lions]] and was signed by the Broncos as an [[undrafted free agent]] and played his entire career with the team. {{As of|2023}}'s offseason, his 849 career [[reception (gridiron football)|receptions]] and 11,389 receiving yards ranked him 30th all-time for receptions and 34th for yards.<ref>See customizable lists at [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_career.htm pro-football-reference.com]</ref>

==Early life and education==
At [[Arkansas High School|Arkansas Senior High School]] in [[Texarkana, Arkansas]], Smith [[Letterman (sports)|lettered]] two years in [[High school football|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.

===College career===
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 [[Associated Press|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.<ref>[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=21220 Rod Smith | Players | Nflplayers.Com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==National Football League==
After the [[1994 NFL draft|1994 draft]], Smith went undrafted and was signed by the [[Denver Broncos]] as a free agent. His first NFL catch was a last-minute 43-yard touchdown from [[John Elway]] in a 38–31 win against the [[Washington Redskins]] on September 17, 1995. In fourteen seasons as an NFL player, Smith had eight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He had two seasons of at least 100 receptions ({{nfly|2000}}: 100; {{nfly|2001}}: 113). In 2000, Smith and teammate Ed McCaffrey became only the second wide receiver duo on the same team to each gain 100 receptions in the same season (with Herman Moore and Brett Perriman). His 113 receptions in 2001 led the league. He was a starting wide receiver of the Broncos' back-to-back [[Super Bowl]] championships in [[Super Bowl XXXII|1997]] and [[Super Bowl XXXIII|1998]]. In the Broncos' 34–19 win in Super Bowl XXXIII, Smith had 5 receptions for 152 yards, tied for 5th most in Super Bowl history,<ref>{{As of|2017}}, see [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=game&year_min=1950&year_max=2016&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=0&pos=0&game_type=P&playoff_round=s&career_game_num_min=0&career_game_num_max=499&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&c1stat=rec_yds&c1comp=gt&c1val=100&c2stat=choose&c2comp=gt&c3stat=choose&c3comp=gt&c4stat=choose&c4comp=gt&c5comp=choose&c5gtlt=lt&c6mult=1.0&c6comp=choose&order_by=rec_yds 100+ yard Super Bowl receivers] at pro-football-reference.com.</ref> including an 80-yard touchdown reception. He was a finalist for the [[Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]] in 2004.

A hip injury that he suffered in [[2006 Denver Broncos season|2006]] required a complete [[hip replacement]]. On December 28, 2007, it was revealed that Smith needed another hip surgery, possibly ending his career.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-12-28 |title=Broncos' Smith needs hip surgery; career over? |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3171344 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> 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, Colorado|Dove Valley]] headquarters.

Smith finished his career as the Broncos all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), and touchdown receptions (68).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/career-receiving.htm | title=Denver Broncos Career Receiving Leaders | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/career-returns.htm | title=Denver Broncos Career Kick & Punt Returns Leaders | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref>  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.

===Awards and accomplishments===
*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]]).
*[[American Football Conference|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)''

====Franchise records====
{{As of|2023}}'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)

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| [[Super Bowl]] champion
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 6 || 152 || '''25.3''' || 43 || 1 
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 10 || 1 || 16 || 237 || 14.8 || 49 || 2 
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1997 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 70 || 1,180 || 16.9 || 78 || '''12''' 
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1998 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 86 || 1,222 || 14.2 || 58 || 6 
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 15 || 79 || 1,020 || 12.9 || 71 || 4 
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 100 || '''1,602''' || 16.0 || 49 || 8 
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 14 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''113''' || 1,343 || 11.9 || 65 || 11 
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 89 || 1,027 || 11.5 || 46 || 5 
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 15 || 74 || 845 || 11.4 || 38 || 3
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 79 || 1,144 || 14.5 || '''85''' || 7
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 85 || 1,105 || 13.0 || 72 || 6
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 52 || 512 || 9.8 || 20 || 3
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRo01.htm Career] !! 183 !! 158 !! 849 !! 11,389 !! 13.4 !! 85 !! 68 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{NFL receptions leaders}}
{{Super Bowl XXXII}}
{{Super Bowl XXXIII}}
{{Broncos50th}}
{{Denver Broncos Ring of Honor}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Rod}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Missouri Southern Lions football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Texarkana, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Arkansas]]