Andre Smith

Andre Dewayne Smith Jr. was born on January 25, 1987, in Birmingham, Alabama. He established himself as an elite talent early, earning “Mr. Football” honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2005 as the only offensive lineman to ever receive the award. Smith attended the University of Alabama, where he was a three-year starter at left tackle, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2008 and winning the Outland Trophy. His college career was marked by consistent performance and leadership on the offensive line.

Smith was selected as the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, marking the start of a twelve-year professional career. He played for various NFL teams, including multiple stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, and also for the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens. Throughout his career, Smith was a key component of his teams’ offensive lines, known for his run-blocking abilities. He contributed to strong offensive performances, including aiding in significant rushing yardage and effective pass protection for quarterbacks. His career progression included overcoming injuries and adapting to new team environments, demonstrating resilience and commitment to the sport.

Over the course of his NFL career, Smith played in 121 games, starting 98 of them. He was recognized for his abilities with a spot on the Pro Football Focus First-Team All-Pro roster in 2012. Smith consistently performed at a high level, contributing to teams’ offensive successes through his strong presence on the line. He also engaged in community and professional development, such as an externship with StubHub through the NFL Players Association in 2017.