• Faith: Christian
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  May 07, 1984

Alex Smith is an American former professional football player. After being the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft, Smith played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2012, then for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to 2017. The Washington native suffered a leg injury in 2018 while he was playing for the Washington Football Team in 2018 but made a triumphant return in 2020.

The quarterback refers to himself as “a man of God that happens to play football, not a football player who believes in God,” and he currently spreads God’s word to those that are underprivileged. The Alex Smith Foundation supplies children in the foster care system with the help they need to successfully transition from adolescence to thriving young adulthood.

The 36-year-old recently posted a video on social media announcing his retirement.

“Two years ago, I was stuck in a wheelchair, staring down at my mangled leg, wondering if I would ever be able to go on a walk again or play with my kids in the yard,” Smith said. “On a routine play, I almost lost everything. But football wouldn’t let me give up. Because, no, this isn’t just a game. It’s not just what happens between those white lines on a Sunday afternoon. It’s about the challenges and the commitment they require. It’s about how hard and how far you can push yourself. It’s about the bond between those 53 guys in the locker room and everybody else in the organization. It’s about fully committing yourself to something bigger.”

Image courtesy of Keith Allison / commons.wikimedia.org