Neil Smith

Sport: Football

Induction Year: 2004

Induction Year: 2004

A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Neil Smith is a product of McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans who went on to star at Nebraska and in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers during a 13-year career as a defensive end. The second overall pick in the 1988 draft, Smith was a fierce pass rusher for the Chiefs from 1988-1996. He made the AP All-Pro team in 1993 when he led the NFL with 15 sacks and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1992-96) for Kansas City. He also tied for the Chiefs team lead in sacks with 14 1/2 in 1992 and had 11 1/2 and 12, respectively in 1994 and ’95. His 86 sacks with the Chiefs (he had 18 1/2 with the Broncos and Chargers) ranks him second in club history behind the 126 1/2 recorded by Derrick Thomas. At Nebraska, Smith was a first-team All-America pick by The Sporting News and a second-team choice by the AP and Football News as a senior, and was the defensive MVP of the Ricoh Japan Bowl.