Alex Smith Comeback Story, How Did His Career End?
by Sona | Updated Mar 29, 2023
Who is Alex Smith?
Alexander Douglas Smith, a former American football quarterback, had a successful career in the National Football League (NFL) spanning 16 seasons. He was born on May 7, 1984, in Bremerton, Washington, and grew up in La Mesa, California, where his father, Douglas D. Smith, served as an executive director at Helix High School, the same school Smith attended. Smith excelled in high school, earning a place on the first-team all-conference and all-county squads in the San Diego CIF system. He also won the conference offensive player of the year twice and received the team MVP award for Helix twice. Smith went on to play college football at Utah, where he was named a first-team All-American and helped the team win the 2005 Fiesta Bowl during his senior year. In the 2005 NFL Draft, he was the first overall pick and joined the San Francisco 49ers.
Alex Smith Comeback Story
The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award will be renamed after quarterback Alex Smith, who had a successful 16-year career despite a life-threatening leg fracture. He retired in April 2021 and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 before being traded to Washington in 2018. In November 2018, he suffered a horrific injury, but after months of rehabilitation, he returned to the field in October 2020. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year by various organizations after his impressive performance. Smith's resilience and determination throughout his NFL career serve as an inspiration beyond the sport.
What Happened to Alex Smith?
Alex Smith sustained a severe injury to his right leg during a football game on November 18, 2018, when he was tackled by the opposing team. The injury resulted in a compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula, leaving his leg in an awkward angle. However, the recovery process was further complicated by a flesh-eating bacteria infection that developed after his initial surgery. Smith had to undergo 16 additional surgeries before he could start his journey towards complete healing. Despite his return to the field, he still wears a special titanium brace to protect his leg due to the extensive tissue loss caused by the surgeries.
How Did Alex Smith Career End?
Alex Smith, the winner of NFL Comeback Player of the Year several months ago, has officially announced his retirement from professional football. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft chose to end his 16-year career on his own terms, despite facing a devastating leg injury in 2018 that could have forced him to retire earlier. As a three-time Pro Bowler, Smith's injury required him to undergo 17 surgeries and endure an arduous rehabilitation process. However, he defied the odds and made a triumphant return last season, helping lead Washington to the NFC East division title with a remarkable 5-1 record. Although several teams expressed interest in signing him, Smith ultimately decided to retire from the sport.
How Did Alex Smith Overcome From His Injury?
Smith's football career was nearly cut short when he suffered a compound fracture in the fibula and tibia of his right leg. Despite undergoing 17 surgeries and battling a flesh-eating infection that led to sepsis, Smith and his wife Liz decided against amputating his leg. Smith's miraculous return to the field in October 2020, only two years after the devastating injury, was a true feat considering he had been dependent on a cumbersome metal brace for mobility just months prior. During the early stages of his treatment, Smith's life hung in the balance as the infection threatened to spread and cause organ damage. The team's physician, Dr. Robin West, had made saving Smith's life and leg the primary objective, with anything beyond that seen as a miraculous outcome. Smith had to undergo multiple surgeries, including a muscle transfer and microvascular procedure, before he was eventually cleared to return to football by his medical team in July 2020, marking a remarkable 20-month journey towards recovery.
Alex Smith Leg Injury
Smith suffered a compound fracture in his fibula and tibia, with the latter breaking in a spiraling fashion due to the bone's weaker resistance to torsion. To fix this, doctors used a method called Plate and Screw Fixation, inserting numerous screws into his leg. However, the procedure led to inflammation and infection, causing irreparable damage to Smith's muscles and tissues. He lost his anterior tibialis, requiring doctors to perform skin grafts from his upper thigh down to his lower leg. Despite these setbacks, Smith's determination to recover was nothing short of remarkable. However, the loss of his anterior tibialis made it difficult for him to control the descent of his right foot while walking. Footage of Smith's rehabilitation showed his right foot "slapping" the treadmill with each step, as he worked tirelessly to regain his mobility.
When Did Alex Smith Retire?
In April 2021, the quarterback announced his retirement from the NFL, citing both his age and a devastating leg injury he had sustained. The injury occurred during Week 11 of the 2018-19 season, when he suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula in his right leg while playing against the Houston Texans as part of the Washington Commanders. Following the injury, the quarterback faced a challenging recovery process due to a bacterial infection that developed after his initial surgery. He underwent 16 additional surgeries to fully heal his leg, a testament to his perseverance in the face of such adversity.
Alex Smith Comeback Story: FAQs
Alexander Douglas Smith, a former American football quarterback, had a successful career in the National Football League (NFL) spanning 16 seasons.
Alex Smith sustained a severe injury to his right leg during a football game on November 18, 2018, when he was tackled by the opposing team.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft chose to end his 16-year career on his own terms, despite facing a devastating leg injury in 2018 that could have forced him to retire earlier.
The quarterback retired from the NFL due to a devastating leg injury and his age in April 2021.
Alex Smith was born in Bremerton, Washington on May 7, 1984, and currently he is 38 years old.