Football

Alex Smith, reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year, announces retirement from football

Longtime quarterback Alex Smith announced his NFL retirement Monday, capping a 16-year journey that started as a No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and ended after his improbable return from a gruesome injury.

Smith, who will turn 37 next month, announced his decision in a two-minute, 12-second video posted to Instagram, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. He was released by the Washington Football Team last month but was the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2020 for getting back on the field after an injury two years earlier that nearly cost him his right leg.

"Even though I've got plenty of snaps left in me, after 16 years of giving this game everything I've got, I can't wait to see what else is possible," Smith said in the video. "But first, I'll take a little time to enjoy a few of those walks with my wife, and my kids have no idea what's coming for them in the backyard."

After he suffered a compound leg fracture in November 2018, many assumed Smith's career was over. He required 17 surgeries to stem an infection in his right leg, which was nearly amputated. He needed to wear an external fixator on his leg for eight months and developed drop foot.

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https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31289953/alex-smith-reigning-nfl-comeback-player-year-announces-retirement-football

The 2:12 minute video is at the link

I grew to like Smith, and followed his career, but I'm still totally pissed at the 49ers for passing on Aaron Rodgers and drafting Alex Smith instead. Would have, could have, should have been!