Neil Smith—Does He Have a Shot at Hall of Fame?

By John Turney 

Quick question: How is it that a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro who was on the 1990s' all-decade team, has over 100 career sacks and twice drew votes for Defensive Player of the Year has zero support from the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame's board of selectors?

When you have an answer, contact former defensive end Neil Smith. He's the former All-Pro I'm talking about. 

Smith has never been one of Canton's 25 annual semifinalists, even though many of his all-decade teammates have ... and that must change and change immediately. Because if Smith fails to advance in the Class of 2025, his modern-era eligibility expires ... and you know what that means: He's regulated to the seniors' "swamp" -- a pool of Hall-of-Fame worthy individuals so deep that it includes over 50 all-decade performers never discussed as finalists.

If that happens, and it seems likely, we have to ask: What's the problem? Why hasn't Neil Smith ever advanced? 

Frankly, it's hard to say. He's something of an oddity in that he wasn't just a one-dimensional pass-rushing defensive end. He was an accomplished pass rusher who was also a great run-stopping defensive end.

Just ask him.

"I was a dominant run stopper coming from the Big Eight at one time," the former Kansas City and Denver star said. "(So I learned) how to play the strong side … and, then, when plays come to me, take care of them. And when plays are away from me, chase them down.

Or ask his former coach, the late Marty Schottenheimer.

"He does an excellent job against the run," he once said. "He has natural leverage and body strength and performs quite well against the run."

But it didn't end there, he could get after the passer, too. Again, we call Neil Smith to testify on his behalf.

"When the pass rush came," he said, "I had to never leave the field, and then go hunt and get sacks. So a complete player is really what you’re looking for, and I had everything that a complete player needs as far as trying to get in."

The numbers support his argument.

While it's true that in the eight years he teamed with Hall-of-Famer Derrick Thomas in Kansas City, it was Thomas who had more sacks (98-83), it's also true that, according to the Chiefs' coaches, Smith had more pressures. In those eight seasons Thomas led the club in sacks four times, Smith three and they tied once. But Smith led in pressures six times and Thomas twice.

No, he didn't have the explosive first two steps that Thomas did. Of course, neither did anyone else. But Smith was as successful. From 1992-95 --- the first four seasons after the Chiefs switched to a 4-3 defense -- he was second in the NFL with 53 sacks (including a league-high 15 in 1993). Only Chargers' defensive end Leslie O'Neal had more with 54.

Furthermore, during his time in the NFL, only eight players recorded more sacks ... and six of them are in the Hall of Fame.

Remember also that Smith did that with style, often punctuating his sacks with a "home-run swing" and a Band-Aid on his nose -- something he at first wore because of a broken nose but that later became his trademark. But it wasn't his style that scouts noticed; it was his athleticism and productivity.

"Great reach and good slither," said one. "He can turn his body to separate from blockers." Said another: "He can race to the corner and burst off a block into the pocket. He plays with leverage and comes down hard and quick on inside runs."

By great reach, they meant his 7-foot 1½-inch wingspan. By "burst," they meant his 4.59 40-yard dash time. Yes, Neil Smith was a physical freak, doing all that at 260 pounds.

However, new economics in the NFL caused a change in Smith's career. With a still-new salary cap, the Chiefs couldn't afford both Thomas and Smith. They had to make a decision to keep one, and in 1997 they chose Thomas. That meant Smith's next stop was Denver where his new coach Mike Shanahan said, "For the last decade I was on the other side . . . designing game plans directed toward Neil."

Smith snagged a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Broncos while producing 19 sacks in three seasons. He also went to his final Pro Bowl there.

So what is Neil Smith's legacy?

Hall-of-Fame voters thought enough of him to put him on the 1990's all-decade team, along with three pass rushers you may know -- Reggie White, Bruce Smith and Chris Doleman.

So he was in good company.

But in addition to the sacks, pressures and glowing comments by coaches and scouts, Smith left a record equal or superior to defensive ends with Gold Jackets. His six Pro Bowls are more than Richard Dent, Fred Dean and Charles Haley and as many as Carl Eller, Jason Taylor, Lee Roy Selmon and Claude Humphrey. He was also a consensus All-Pro as many times as Charles Haley and Fred Dean and more times than Elvin Bethea and Ed Sprinkle. 

Not only that, but he has the added credential of changing the game -- an often nebulous criterion you read when supporters promote someone for the Hall. Some of them are true, but often the claim is dubious.

With Smith, it's legit. 

When he played, a defender could move prior to the snap, but an offensive lineman could not. So, Smith figured he'd take advantage by twitching or making a movement to cause the tackle in front of him to flinch ... resulting in a five-yard motion penalty. At least it was until 1998 when the NFL enacted "Neil Smith Rule," prohibiting a defender from making a sudden motion to draw an opposing lineman offside.

Now, it's a penalty on the defender.

Should Neil Smith be inducted? That's up to voters. But that's not the question here. Someone who was all-decade, All-Pro once, second-team All-Pro three times and All-AFC four times ... voted to six Pro Bowls ... produced over 100 career sacks and forced 31 fumbles ... at the very least should be discussed once before he's sent to the seniors category.

Well, the time is now, and the clock is ticking.