Dennis Smith (American football): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American football player (born 1959)}} |
{{Short description|American football player (born 1959)}} |
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{{ |
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} |
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{{BLP sources|date=December 2016}} |
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{{Use American English|date=March 2023}} |
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}} |
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{{Infobox NFL biography |
{{Infobox NFL biography |
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|image |
| image = |
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|name=Dennis Smith |
| name = Dennis Smith |
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|caption= |
| caption = |
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|position=[[Safety (American football position)|Safety]] |
| position = [[Safety (American football position)|Safety]] |
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|number=49 |
| number = 49 |
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|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1959|02|3}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|02|3}} |
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|birth_place=[[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
| birth_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
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|death_date= |
| death_date = |
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|height_ft |
| height_ft = 6 |
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|height_in |
| height_in = 3 |
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|weight_lbs |
| weight_lbs = 200 |
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|draftyear=1981 |
| draftyear = 1981 |
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|draftround=1 |
| draftround = 1 |
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|draftpick=15 |
| draftpick = 15 |
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|high_school=[[Santa Monica High School|Santa Monica]] |
| high_school = [[Santa Monica High School|Santa Monica]] |
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|college=[[USC Trojans football|USC]] |
| college = [[USC Trojans football|USC]] |
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|teams= |
| teams = |
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* [[Denver Broncos]] ([[1981 NFL season|1981]]–[[1994 NFL season|1994]]) |
* [[Denver Broncos]] ([[1981 NFL season|1981]]–[[1994 NFL season|1994]]) |
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|statlabel1=[[Interception]]s |
| statlabel1 = [[Interception]]s |
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|statvalue1=30 |
| statvalue1 = 30 |
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|statlabel2=INT yards |
| statlabel2 = INT yards |
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|statvalue2=431 |
| statvalue2 = 431 |
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|statlabel3=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]] |
| statlabel3 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]] |
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|statvalue3=15 |
| statvalue3 = 15 |
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| ⚫ | |||
|nfl=SMI194880 |
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| ⚫ | |||
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]], [[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]]) |
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]], [[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]]) |
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* Second-team All-Pro ([[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]]) |
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]]) |
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* 6× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]], [[1987 Pro Bowl|1986]], [[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]]–[[1992 Pro Bowl|1991]], [[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]]) |
* 6× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]], [[1987 Pro Bowl|1986]], [[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]]–[[1992 Pro Bowl|1991]], [[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]]) |
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* [[List of NFL annual tackles leaders#Combined tackles leaders|NFL combined tackles leader]] (1983) |
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* [[Denver Broncos Ring of Fame]] |
* [[Denver Broncos Ring of Fame]] |
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* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1978 USC Trojans football team|1978]]) |
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* 2× Third-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1979 College Football All-America Team|1979]], [[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]]) |
* 2× Third-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1979 College Football All-America Team|1979]], [[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]]) |
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* 2× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-10]] ([[1979 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1979]], [[1980 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1980]]) |
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* Second-team All-Pac-10 ([[1978 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1978]]) |
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|HOF= |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| HOF = |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Dennis Smith''' (born February 3, 1959) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Denver Broncos]] from 1981 until 1994. Smith played [[college football]] for the [[USC Trojans football|USC Trojans]]. |
'''Dennis Smith''' (born February 3, 1959) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Denver Broncos]] from 1981 until 1994. Smith played [[college football]] for the [[USC Trojans football|USC Trojans]]. |
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== |
==Early life== |
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Smith played [[high school football]] as a [[wide receiver]] and [[defensive back]] at [[Santa Monica High School]] (Samohi). He was the [[CIF Southern Section]] Co-Player of the Year in 1976. Dennis Smith was a great prospect who went on to be a Pro Bowl player. But at that time his standard as a player was to emulate [[Dennis Thurman]], who had been such an outstanding player previously at Samohi in 1974 who also later starred at [[USC Trojans football|USC]] and Smith would eventually follow Thurman as a freshman to run [[Track and field|track]] and play football at USC as a safety. Smith also ran on the track & field team at Santa Monica and broke the HS [[high jump]] record (which has since been eclipsed) in 1977. He was coached by Tebb Kusserow. who also coached number of other NFL players such as [[Dennis Thurman]], [[Junior Thurman]], [[Mel Kaufman]], [[Pat O'Hara]], [[Glyn Milburn]], [[Sam Anno]], [[Damone Johnson]], and others notables such as actor [[Dean Cain]]. Smith has also been inducted into the Santa Monica High School Hall of Fame for athletes and has had his number "symbolically" retired by the school. |
Smith played [[high school football]] as a [[wide receiver]] and [[defensive back]] at [[Santa Monica High School]] (Samohi). He was the [[CIF Southern Section]] Co-Player of the Year in 1976. Dennis Smith was a great prospect who went on to be a Pro Bowl player. But at that time his standard as a player was to emulate [[Dennis Thurman]], who had been such an outstanding player previously at Samohi in 1974 who also later starred at [[USC Trojans football|USC]] and Smith would eventually follow Thurman as a freshman to run [[Track and field|track]] and play football at USC as a safety. Smith also ran on the track & field team at Santa Monica and broke the HS [[high jump]] record (which has since been eclipsed) in 1977. He was coached by Tebb Kusserow. who also coached number of other NFL players such as [[Dennis Thurman]], [[Junior Thurman]], [[Mel Kaufman]], [[Pat O'Hara]], [[Glyn Milburn]], [[Sam Anno]], [[Damone Johnson]], and others notables such as actor [[Dean Cain]]. Smith has also been inducted into the Santa Monica High School Hall of Fame for athletes and has had his number "symbolically" retired by the school. |
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Latest revision as of 21:14, 25 June 2024
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| No. 49 | |||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 3, 1959 Santa Monica, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Santa Monica | ||||||
| College: | USC | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1981 / round: 1 / pick: 15 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Dennis Smith (born February 3, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos from 1981 until 1994. Smith played college football for the USC Trojans.
Early life
[edit]Smith played high school football as a wide receiver and defensive back at Santa Monica High School (Samohi). He was the CIF Southern Section Co-Player of the Year in 1976. Dennis Smith was a great prospect who went on to be a Pro Bowl player. But at that time his standard as a player was to emulate Dennis Thurman, who had been such an outstanding player previously at Samohi in 1974 who also later starred at USC and Smith would eventually follow Thurman as a freshman to run track and play football at USC as a safety. Smith also ran on the track & field team at Santa Monica and broke the HS high jump record (which has since been eclipsed) in 1977. He was coached by Tebb Kusserow. who also coached number of other NFL players such as Dennis Thurman, Junior Thurman, Mel Kaufman, Pat O'Hara, Glyn Milburn, Sam Anno, Damone Johnson, and others notables such as actor Dean Cain. Smith has also been inducted into the Santa Monica High School Hall of Fame for athletes and has had his number "symbolically" retired by the school.
College career
[edit]Smith was a consensus All-America choice as a senior at University of Southern California in 1980. He played in two Rose Bowls for the Trojans. He played in a secondary which included three future NFL All-Pros: the San Francisco 49ers' Ronnie Lott and the Minnesota Vikings' Joey Browner in addition to himself. Smith was a consensus All-America choice as he lettered four times in football and three times in track. He posted 205 career tackles and 16 interceptions. He was inducted into the USC Ring of Fame in 2001. Smith played at Southern California (1977–1980) for John Robinson in a star-studded defensive backfield and is a member of the USC team that won the national championship in 1978.
Professional career
[edit]Smith established himself as one of the most feared and hardest hitting safeties in the NFL (a reputation later held by his protégé, Steve Atwater). Smith was voted to play in six Pro Bowls (following the 1985–1986, 1989–1991 and 1993 seasons), was named All-American Football Conference (AFC) in 1984 and 1988. He played on three Broncos Super Bowl teams (XXI, XXII, XXIV), and was named All-Pro four times.
Smith's career totals include 1,171 tackles, 30 interceptions and 15 sacks. He posted a career-high five interceptions in 1991. He ranks fourth all-time among Denver Broncos in games played with the franchise with 184. He is the Broncos' leading tackler of all time with 1,152 recorded tackles.[1]
Smith was named the Denver Broncos's most inspirational player in 1992. He was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001 and the Colorado Hall of Fame in 2006.[2]
NFL career statistics
[edit]Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 1981 | DEN | 16 | 4 | 45 | — | — | 0.0 | 1 | 65 | 65.0 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | DEN | 8 | 8 | 65 | — | — | 2.0 | 1 | 29 | 29.0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | DEN | 14 | 13 | 114 | — | — | 5.0 | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | DEN | 15 | 15 | 92 | — | — | 1.0 | 3 | 13 | 4.3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 64 | 1 |
| 1985 | DEN | 13 | 12 | 66 | — | — | 4.0 | 3 | 46 | 15.3 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 88 | — | — | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DEN | 6 | 6 | 35 | — | — | 0.0 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DEN | 11 | 11 | 106 | — | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 82 | — | — | 0.0 | 2 | 78 | 39.0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | DEN | 15 | 15 | 110 | — | — | 0.0 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 110 | — | — | 0.0 | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 120 | — | — | 0.0 | 4 | 10 | 2.5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 96 | — | — | 0.0 | 3 | 57 | 19.0 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | DEN | 12 | 12 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 184 | 170 | 1,158 | 23 | 6 | 15.0 | 30 | 431 | 14.4 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 69 | 1 | |