On Monday, quarterback Alex Smith announced his retirement from the NFL (via Instagram). After mounting an improbable comeback in 2020, the 36-year-old says that he’s now ready to begin a new chapter. 
“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,” said Smith. “I almost lost everything. But football wouldn’t let me give up. Because, no, 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 organization. It’s about fully committing yourself to something bigger.”
Smith nearly lost his leg after a horrific injury in 2018. In addition to the numerous fractures, Smith suffered a series of complications. Most believed that Smith’s career was over. But, somehow, he managed to retake the field in 2020 with Washington. After going 5-1 across six starts, Washington released him from the remainder of his contract. According to Smith, Ron Rivera & Co. didn’t necessarily want him back in the first place.
“When I decided to come back, I definitely threw a wrench in the team’s plan,” Smith said in February. “They didn’t see it, didn’t want me there, didn’t want me to be a part of it, didn’t want me to be on the team, the roster, didn’t want to give me a chance.”
Surely, some teams were willing to give Smith a chance this year. Just a few weeks ago, the Texans were rumored as a possible destination for the former No. 1 overall pick. Still, Smith has nothing left to prove — especially after making his miraculous recovery. We here at PFR wish Smith the best in retirement.
Congrats and am happy to see this. The man has nothing to prove to anyone. He made a amazing comeback , proved he could still play at a high level and now can enjoy his retirement and raise his family and enjoy his time with his wife. I’m sure $$$ wont be a issue so he should have an amazing life in retirement!!!
I wonder if a inspirational speaker may be in his future??? He has a amazing story to tell!!!!
I was thinking the same thing in regards to motivational speaking. Heck of a story, and even his retirement announcement is inspiring.
Good decision. Nice career, wish him well
Much respect. Great man too, as it appears.
Thanks to him for the arguably the best story to come out of Washington NFL in arguably 30 years.
Happy he is healthy
But him winning that award was a farce
A participation trophy for bad football
Waters down the significance of that award
A damn shame
Either way enjoy retirement with your undeserving comeback award
just wondering, who else would u have given it to?
To be able to come back and play at all after the injury he had is much more impressive than any other player that has won the award before. I don’t think there has ever been anyone who deserved the award more than him. Furthermore Imagine taking the come back player of the year award so personally that you would even feel the need to rip on the guy about it. Kind of a weird and ridiculous take.
username checks out
Who pissed in your Corn Flakes this morning? The fact that he took the field period warrents the award. Why the hate? Sheesh
Who knows what DC thoughts were, but they didn’t cut him at all during his recovery. So for him to say the team didn’t support him seems like sour grapes. And apparently no other team was interested in his service. Never heard of 1 interview since his release.
Had they cut him prior to this past season his dead cap hit would’ve been $32.2M. Given that his cap hit for 2020 was $21.4M it would’ve been more costly to release him than to have him on the roster. For this upcoming season, his cap hit would’ve been $24.4M and if he was cut (which happened) his dead cap hit would be $10.8M. By waiting a year they save around $13.6M against the cap instead of losing $10.8M on top of the $21.4M already allocated to him. In other words, they kept him this past season because it was good business and not because they wanted to “support” him.
Good points. But he quickly earned the starting role as well. Like I said, we don’t know the teams thoughts. He was unceremoniously dumped by both the 9’ers and KC and never said a bad word towards them.
I am glad that he was able to come back and play at a high level and I wish him a happy and healthy retirement. Remember the 49ers chose him instead of Aaron Rodgers….
it’s very possible the team didnt want him and wanted to collect insurance or something on his contract. i think he’s referencing prior to the season rather then during it.
Could be. But after what 17 surgeries(?), not surprising that any team would want to keep him on their roster. There was ample talk of amputation of his leg.
I’m sure with the extensive injury, that DC could have forced a medical retirement or some other way to dump him, rather thean being a cap casualty. But they didn’t & he played again.
i mean, if that’s your standard for support. most professional spots franchises are classier then WFT so it wouldn’t surprise me if that was their intent.
What do you think the Jags or Bears or NYG or any team would have done?
What would you have done if you were the GM? He wasn’t very good last year (understandable), expensive, old, & with serious medical issues.
This is the decision everyone was hoping for. Every hit was like a hold your breath moment.
Such a great story. So glad he was able to come back for himself and his doubters.
I would have thought for sure that he’d have signed in Jacksonville to be a mentor to Lawrence seeing he played for Urban in college, but best wishes on a healthy retirement!
He certainly strikes me as having what it takes to be a good, maybe great coach. Maybe he’ll take a little time away and then send out feelers for a QB coaching position. I agree, a LOT of young QBs would certainly benefit from his experience.
Theismann, Griffin, Smith. I suspect we haven’t seen the last of devastating injuries to Washington QBs.
Alex Smith =Man….Best of luck on your retirement!!!
I wonder how his career may have ended up had a certain idiot of a head coach who shall remain name(harbaugh)less not replaced him with a one trick pony of a QB after a minor injury when he was having his best year.
Anyway, goodbye to a man who defines class in a sometimes classless game. I hope he is not done with the game. I think he would be a successful and inspirational college HC eventually.
The man has nothing left to prove. Happy he was able to take the field again and can retire with his head held high. Enjoy retirement Alex!
Wrapped up a
Hall
Of
Fame
Career with a solid
Final season