Robert Smith
A Mr. Football winner who led the NFC in rushing before retiring to pursue medicine and broadcasting.
Robert Smith is an American college football analyst for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network who played professionally as a running back in the NFL for eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Born on March 4, 1972, in Euclid, Ohio, he won Ohio's Mr. Football Award in 1989 before starring at Ohio State. Selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft as the 21st overall pick, Smith navigated early injuries including knee and ankle issues before breaking out with a career-best season in 2000.
- Role
- Running Back
- Draft Year
- 1993
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Smith's professional journey was marked by resilience; after suffering ailments like chicken pox and multiple knee injuries early on, he finally broke through in 1997 with 1,266 rushing yards. His finest year arrived in 2000 at age 28, when he led the NFC with 1,521 rushing yards. Shortly after that season, a doctor's appointment revealed he needed his third knee surgery, prompting him to announce his retirement on February 6, 2001. Over eight seasons, Smith wore number 26 as a rookie in 1993 before switching to number 20 in 1994, accumulating 6,818 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns.
In Their Own Story
Before his NFL success, Smith narrowed his college choices to Miami, USC, UCLA, and Ohio State. As a freshman in 1990 with the Buckeyes, he rushed for 1,126 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the team. He sat out the 1991 football season to focus on track, posting a personal-best 10.24 seconds in the 100 meters, but returned to football in 1992 after coach John Cooper kept the door open. His high school dominance was legendary; as a senior in 1989, he gained 2,042 yards and scored 31 touchdowns, earning the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year award. During his Panthers' career at Euclid High School, he amassed 5,038 rushing yards on 548 carries with 67 touchdowns.
Reader's Guide
Following his retirement to avoid serious injuries and pursue a career in medicine, Smith maintained a mostly private life while appearing as an analyst on ESPN programs like Outside the Lines and FS1's UNDISPUTED. In May 2016, he moved to Fox Sports as an NFL game analyst alongside Chris Myers. His post-playing career includes founding Fan Huddle, a wellness platform for athletes, and publishing his 2004 book, The Rest of the Iceberg, which detailed his background and reasons for retiring. He has also been open about fighting alcoholism during his playing career, noting he has been sober since his son's birth.
Did You Know?
- Smith won Ohio's Mr. Football Award in 1989.
- Smith wore number 26 as a rookie in 1993 before switching to number 20 in 1994.
- Smith retired after his third knee surgery, announcing his departure from the game on February 6, 2001.