by Cameron Coon

Created on: March 21, 2009   Last Updated: March 28, 2009

Throughout his 19 year career Bruce Smith established himself as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play the game of football. Throughout his extensivly long career Smith played in 279 games amassing an NFL record 200 sacks, two interceptions, 46 forced fumbles, and fifteen fumble recoveries which he returned for 33 yards and a touchdown. Of his 19 seasons he had fourteen of them where he had at least ten sacks, a testament that he preformed consistently year in and year out. He was also named to the pro bowl nine times.

In college Bruce played football for the Virginia Tech Hokies where he was known as " the sack man". Smith graduated in 1984 as the most honored player in Virginia Tech history. As a hokie he had a total of 71 tackles for a loss, he had 46 career sacks including 22 during his junior season in 1983 when he was named a first team all-American. In 1984 smith won the Outland trophy as Americas top defensive lineman.

After graduating smith was drafted by the buffalo bills with the first overall pick in the 1985 draft. He became known as a sack specialist with 15 his rookie year and a career best 19 in 1990. By 1989 he had already become the bills all time sack leader with 52. He helped the bills get to there first super bowl in franchise history losing to the New york Giants on a last second field goal miss attempted by Scott Norwood that went wide right about two feet. Bruce however had a great game recording a safety in the end zone and forcing the Giants to turn the ball over on downs by tackling running back Otis Anderson for a two yard loss on fourth down. At the top of his career smith was known as one of the most fearsome players in the NFL. His sack record attests to this though his public demeanor suggested he was quite mild mannered off the field. Bruce sat out most off the 1991 season due to a knee injury. In 1992 he was again voted to the pro bowl, recording a team leading 14 sacks.

During these years smith was continually selected to the pro bowl every year from 1987-1998 [exept for his 1991 injury shortened season]. In 1987 he was named pro bowl MVP, he was also named AP defensive player of the year in 1990 and 1996, was named NEA defensive player of the year in 1990 and 1993, and named UPI's and AFC player of the year four times [1987,1988,1990, and 1996]. By 1998 although getting older still put up big numbers with fifty tackles and ten sacks plus his 100 others.

Smith was signed by the Washington Redskins in 1999. In his first season with the team he had 58 tackles and ten sacks. Although his career was getting shorter he was still in pursuit of breaking Reggie Whites sack record of 198 which he finally broke in the thirteenth game of his last season in 2003. Bruce Smith finished his career with an amazing 200 sacks. In 2004 smith was released by the redskins due to salary cap issues. In 2008 smith was inducted into the bills wall of fame. And on january 31st Roger Goodell announced that Smith along with Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson would be inducted into the NFL hall of fame in Canton on August 8th 2009. Smith now lives in Virginia beach Virginia with his wife of seventeen years Carmen and his teenage son. He works as a large scale hotel designer, undertaking many projects with Armada Hoffler. He recently returned to Blacksburg where he purchased the Red lion inn and is currently redeveloping the site with a 50 million student orriented apartment, hotel and rental complex.

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