Jimmy Smith Career

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Smith formed a legendary partnership with Keenan McCardell known as "Thunder and Lightning," a name coined by Pete 'Boomer' Gregovich in 1996. This duo became central to the Jaguars' offense, helping the team reach playoff appearances for four straight years from 1996 through 1999. In 1999, Smith helped make the Jaguars the best team in the NFL during the regular season, registering a career-high 1,636 receiving yards and eight touchdowns while setting a franchise record with 116 receptions. His dominance was further highlighted by his ability to lead the AFC in receiving yards in 1999 with 1,636 yards (his 1997 yardage was 1,324, and he did not lead the AFC that year). Smith remained one of the franchise's cornerstones for a decade, leading the team in receiving every season from 1996 to 2005. NFL Films detailed their history together in the 2013 documentary "A Football Life: Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith."

In Their Own Story

The lights at Alltel Stadium hummed with anticipation as the fourth quarter ticked down during a matchup against arguably one of the best defenses in NFL history, the Baltimore Ravens, on November 5, 2000. Smith stood poised in his white jersey, eyes locked on the quarterback across the line. With a sudden burst of speed, he broke coverage, leaping into the air to snatch the ball mid-flight. The crowd erupted as he sprinted untouched toward the end zone for one of three touchdowns that day. He finished with 15 receptions and 291 receiving yards, a performance that ranks fifth in NFL history for single-game yardage. This game against the eventual Super Bowl champions showcased his elite status, cementing his legacy as the Jaguars' all-time leading receiver.

Reader's Guide

Jimmy Smith entered the NFL in 1995 after signing with the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars following a tryout on February 28 of that year. Head coach Tom Coughlin named him the fifth wide receiver on the depth chart, and he finished his rookie season leading the team in kickoff returns. In 1996, after Andre Rison was released, Smith became a starter and emerged as a dominant force, helping the Jaguars win their last five games to reach the AFC Championship Game. He was voted to the Pro Bowl five straight times from 1997 to 2001. Despite overcoming three difficult intestine operations in 2001 to remove scar tissue related to his earlier appendectomy, he continued to perform at a high level. Smith abruptly retired on May 11, 2006, leaving behind a legacy as the franchise's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.

Did You Know?

• Smith was nicknamed "Silk" by his high school teammates for making big plays look easy.
• He missed the entire 1993 season due to a severe post-surgical infection requiring an ileostomy, which nearly cost him his life.
• In 2000, he recorded 291 receiving yards against the Baltimore Ravens, the fourth-highest total in NFL history for a single game at the time.
• Smith led the Jacksonville Jaguars in receiving every single season from 1996 through 2005.
• He was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars in 2016 and holds at least 31 franchise records as of the 2017 off-season.

Early Life and College Breakthrough

Born Jimmy Lee Smith Jr. on February 9, 1969, he attended Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi, earning all-conference honors as a senior. Teammates nicknamed him "Silk" for making big plays look easy. Lacking Division I offers, he accepted a scholarship to Jackson State University. After two seasons as a backup, he became a starter as a junior, forming the top receiving duo in Division I-AA with Tim Barnett. That year, he led the team with 40 receptions for 877 yards and nine touchdowns, including three against Southern University. In his final year, he recorded 43 catches for 801 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his college career with 110 receptions, 2,073 yards, and 16 touchdowns, setting a school record with 10 receptions for 239 yards against Delaware State University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration and was named to the Jackson State All-Century team in 2011.

Dallas Cowboys Rookie Season and Medical Crisis

Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (36th overall) of the 1992 NFL draft. He missed the first four games after breaking his right fibula during a July 19 scrimmage. Listed as the fourth wide receiver, he made his regular-season debut on October 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. In Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, he tackled Deion Sanders on a punt return in a 41–17 victory. Playing just seven games as a special-teamer without a reception, he earned his first Super Bowl ring when Dallas defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17 in Super Bowl XXVII. In 1993, while competing for the third receiver spot, Smith developed abdominal pain on August 21. Despite informing trainers and doctors repeatedly, he was given antacids instead of a correct diagnosis until August 24, when he underwent an emergency appendectomy. Released from the hospital the next day with a fever, he was readmitted on August 27 due to a severe post-surgical infection requiring an ileostomy. This forced him to miss the entire season and Super Bowl XXVIII. The Cowboys placed him on the non-football illness list and offered only $100,000 of his $350,000 salary; he declined, and the NFL Players Association won a grievance securing his full compensation. He was waived by Dallas on July 11, 1994.

Rise with the Jacksonville Jaguars

After being signed and released by the Philadelphia Eagles in August 1994, Smith joined the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars on February 28, 1995, following a tryout. Head coach Tom Coughlin named him the fifth wide receiver; he finished the season leading the team in kickoff returns. In 1996, after Andre Rison was released, Smith became a starter and emerged as a dominant receiver, leading the AFC with 1,244 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while helping the Jaguars win their final five games to reach the AFC Championship Game. He formed a duo known as "Thunder and Lightning" with Keenan McCardell following a 1997 TV Guide photo shoot. Smith led the team in receiving every season from 1996 to 2005, helping the Jaguars reach the playoffs four consecutive years (1996–1999). In 1999, he set franchise records with 116 receptions and 1,636 yards. His best career game occurred in 2000 against the Baltimore Ravens, where he posted 15 receptions for 291 yards and three touchdowns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl five straight times from 1997 to 2001.

Legacy and Impact on the Game

Smith retired abruptly on May 11, 2006, finishing his career with 862 receptions (seventh in NFL history) and 12,287 yards (11th in league history), along with 67 touchdowns. He holds 31 Jaguars franchise records as of the 2017 off-season, including career receptions, receiving yards, and single-season marks for receptions (116 in 1999) and yards (1,636 in 1999). His career high in touchdowns was eight, achieved in 1998, 2000, and 2001. In 2014, NFL Films detailed his history with McCardell in *A Football Life: Keenan McCardell & Jimmy Smith*. He was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars in 2016. His career included overcoming three intestine operations in 2001 to remove scar tissue from his Dallas appendectomy and a four-game suspension in 2003 for substance abuse.