Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Football Team, has announced his retirement from the NFL. He and his wife, Elizabeth, both posted the following via their Instagram accounts.
San Francisco drafted Smith out of Utah with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005. He spent his first eight NFL seasons with the 49ers before being traded to the Chiefs in 2013. Smith was traded to Washington in 2018 and suffered a devastating leg injury that year.
Smith worked his way back and returned in 2020. The quarterback completed 168-of-252 attempts (66.7 percent) for 1,582 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions through eight games this past season.
"So to everyone out there, whether you're a part of Niner Nation, the Cheifs Kingdom, or the Burgundy and Gold, I think you," Smith said in his video. "To all the men I had the privilege of standing with and playing alongside, thank you.
"I want to say thank you for believing in me, and thank you for helping me believe in myself, and in the impossible because 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, 36, has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 35,650 yards with 199 touchdowns and 109 interceptions through his 16 NFL seasons. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was named this past season's NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
"On behalf of my entire family, the San Francisco 49ers organization would like to congratulate Alex Smith on a remarkable and inspirational NFL playing career," wrote 49ers CEO Jed York in a statement. "For eight years, Alex represented our franchise with class both on and off the field, and his contributions to the 49ers organization will be remembered forever.
"Throughout his time in the Red and Gold, Alex showed how perseverance, commitment and hard work were core principles to him as a person and it was truly special to see his impact in the locker room and in the community. Alex continued to show those values over the course his NFL journey, which is why it was no surprise to see him named the 2020 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year. To Alex, his wife Elizabeth, and their three children, Hudson, Hayes and Sloane, we wish you all the best. You will always be part of the 49ers family."