HomeSportsAlex Smith announces NFL retirement after career with San Francisco 49ers, Kansas...

Alex Smith announces NFL retirement after career with San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Football Team | NFL News

spot_img
spot_img

Alex Smith has announced his retirement, posting a video on Instagram detailing his journey back from a horrific injury: “Two years ago I was stuck in a wheelchair, staring down at my mangled leg, wondering if I would ever be able to go on a walk again or play with my kids in the yard.”

Last Updated: 19/04/21 5:17pm

Alex Smith has called time on his NFL career

Alex Smith has called time on his NFL career

Alex Smith, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2020, has announced his retirement 16 years after he was the first pick in the NFL Draft.

The former San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Football Team quarterback announced the news on Monday in a video posted to Instagram.

Smith led Washington into the playoffs more than two years after the devastating injury he sustained in Week 11 of the 2018 season. He required 17 surgeries to save his leg, repair the injury and fight a life-threatening infection.

“Two years ago I was stuck in a wheelchair, staring down at my mangled leg, wondering if I would ever be able to go on a walk again or play with my kids in the yard,” he said.

“On a routine play, I almost lost everything. But football wouldn’t let me give up.

“This isn’t just a game. It’s not just what happens between those white lines on a Sunday afternoon. It’s about the challenges and the commitment they require. It’s about how hard and how far you can push yourself. It’s about the bond between those 53 guys in the locker-room and everybody else in the organisation. It’s about fully committing yourself to something bigger.”

Smith bounced back from a serious injury

Smith bounced back from a serious injury

Washington released him last month. Smith became a free agent, and the move saved the club nearly $15m against the 2021 salary cap.

Smith, who turns 37 next month, started the 2020 season as Washington’s third-string quarterback. The team turned to Kyle Allen after Dwayne Haskins was ineffective, and Smith took over after Allen suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9.

He played in eight regular-season games, starting six, and completed 168 of 252 passes (66.7 per cent) for 1,582 yards and six touchdowns. He was unable to play in Washington’s wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a calf injury.

The No 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco, Smith was 99-67-1 as a starter and passed for 35,650 yards and 199 touchdowns in 174 games with the 49ers (2005-2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2014-2017) and Washington.

For updates on the Draft, be sure to follow along at skysports.com/nfl and on Twitter @SkySportsNFL.

Source link

spot_img
spot_img
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular