Jerry Smith (American football)

Gerald "Jerry" Sanford Smith (July 19, 1943 – October 15, 1986) was a professional American football tight end for the National Football League's Washington Redskins from 1965–1977.

Professional career

Playing for Otto Graham's, Vince Lombardi's and 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, including 60 touchdowns, a record for tight ends at the time. He was named All-Pro twice and held several NFL records that stood for years.

Death

Smith died of AIDS on October 15, 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 homosexual activities. Smith's sexuality was confirmed after his death by a former teammate, pro NFL football player David Kopay, who had come out of the closet years earlier. The Redskins logo, along with Jerry Smith's uniform number 87, was part of the AIDS quilt.

Sources

Brief history of gay athletes, ESPN
Who was the first gay football player to play in the Super Bowl? Jim Provenzano, Baltimore OUTloud
Ex-Redskin Jerry Smith Says He's Battling AIDS;'Maybe It Will Help People Understand' George Solomon, Washington Post, Published August 26, 1986

70 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995-98
41 Mike Bass CB 1969-75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932-37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937-52
31 Don Bosseler B 1957-64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980-93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968-79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951-53, 1955-58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969-76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970-77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975-88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989-93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985-92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979-94
53 Al DeMao C 1945-53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950-59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950-51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932-40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938-44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968-77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983-2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981-91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965-78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994-98
56 Len Hauss C 1964-77
27 Ken Houston S 1973-80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964-67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981-93
47 Dick James RB 1955-63
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964-74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952-54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971-78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964-67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988-95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952-53, 1955-59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981-89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983-93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988-92
73 Mark May T 1981-89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971-78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985-94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969-78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936-41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962-68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990-99
81 Art Monk WR 1980-93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974-86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977-84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980-84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979-89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966-77
65 Vince Promuto G 1960-70
44 John Riggins RB 1976-79, 1981-85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987-93
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986-93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987-93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965-77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956-58
74 George Starke T 1973-84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971-80
84 Hugh (Bones) Taylor E 1947-54
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964-77
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974-85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970-77
85 Don Warren TE 1979-92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981-84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986-89

Coaches

George Allen Head Coach 1971-77
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936-42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981-92

Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77 • Cliff Battles RB 1932–37 • Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52 • Gene Brito DE, 1951–53, 1955–58 • Larry Brown RB 1969–76 • Dave Butz DT 1975–88 • Gary Clark WR 1985–92 • Jack Kent Cooke Owner 1961–97 • Bill Dudley RB, 1950–51, 1953 • Wayne Curry Prince George's County Executive 1994–2002 • Pat Fischer CB 1968–77 • Joe Gibbs Head Coach, 1981–92, 2004–07 • Darrell Green CB 1983–2002 • Russ Grimm G 1981–91 • Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78 • Ken Harvey LB 1994–98 • Len Hauss C 1964–77 • Phil Hochberg PA Announcer 1963–2000 • Ken Houston S 1973–80 • Sam Huff LB, 1964–67, 1969 • Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93 • Dick James RB 1956–63 • Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74 • Charlie Justice RB, 1950, 1952–54 • Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78 • Eddie LeBaron QB, 1952–53, 1955–59 • Vince Lombardi Head Coach 1969 • Dexter Manley DE 1981–89 • Charles Mann DE 1983–93 • George Preston Marshall Team Founder & Owner 1932–69 • Wayne Millner End, 1936–41, 1945 • Bobby Mitchell Flanker 1962–68 • Brian Mitchell RB/KR 1990–99 • Art Monk WR 1980–93 • Mark Moseley PK 1974–86 • Brig Owens DB 1966–77 • Vince Promuto G 1960–70 • John Riggins RB, 1976–79, 1981–85 • Jerry Smith TE 1965–77 • Charley Taylor WR 1964–77 • Sean Taylor S 2004–07 • Joe Theismann QB 1974–85 • Lamar "Bubba" Tyer Head Athletic Trainer, 1971–2002, 2004–08 • Doug Williams QB 1986–89 •

Persondata
Name	Smith, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 19, 1943
Place of birth
Date of death	October 15, 1986
Place of death