Jerry Smith (NFL player)

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Jerry Smith
Date of birth	July 19, 1943
Place of birth	Eugene, OR
Date of death	October 15, 1986
Position(s)	Tight end
College	Arizona State
NFL Draft	1965 / Round 9/ Pick 118
Pro Bowls	2
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1965-1977	Washington Redskins

Gerald "Jerry" Thomas Smith (July 19, 1943 - October 15, 1986) was a professional football player, playing tight end for the NFL Washington Redskins from 1965-1977. Born in Livermore, California he was raised Roman Catholic.

[edit] Pro football career

Playing for George Allen's Redskins, Smith had a stellar career. He played in the 1973 Super Bowl VII, and Sports Illustrated called him "an outstanding receiver among tight ends, with the ability to break open for a long gain." In his career Smith caught 421 passes and made 60 touchdowns, a record at the time. Despite being named "All Pro" and holding NFL records that stood for years, he has been denied membership in the NFL Hall of Fame.

[edit] Death

Smith died of AIDS on 15 October 1986. He was the first former professional athlete to die of the disease. Although he acknowledged that he had AIDS, he never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. Smith's sexuality was disclosed after his death by a friend, confidante(and teammate), pro NFL football player David Kopay.