| Ed Smith | |
| School: | Michigan State Spartans |
| Currentposition: | Quarterback |
| Birth Date: | 13 January 1956 |
| Heightft: | 6 |
| Heightin: | 1 |
| Weight: | 168 |
| Pastschools: |
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Ed Smith (born January 13, 1956) is a former American football quarterback.
Smith grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and attended Central Catholic High School.[1]
Smith's older brother, Danny Smith, has been a football coach for more than 30 years, including stints with Georgia Tech (1987–1994), the Washington Redskins (2004–2012), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2013 to present).[1]
Smith played college football at Michigan State University as a quarterback from 1976 to 1978.[2] He was redshirted in 1975.[3] As a senior, he led the Big Ten with 2,226 passing yards, a 139.0 passing efficiency rating, and 2,247 yards of total offense.[4] He was also selected as the most valuable player on the 1978 Michigan State Spartans football team that as the co-champion of the Big Ten.[4] [5] He was also selected by both the Associated Press and United Press International as the second-team quarterback (behind Rick Leach) on the 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[6] [7] He finished his career as Michigan State's and the Big Ten's all-time leader with 5,706 passing yards.[8]
In June 2015, the Lansing State Journal ranked Smith at No. 46 on it list of Michigan State's greatest football players.[9]
In February 1979, Smith signed a two-year contract to play professional football for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.[8] [10] [11] In one of his early games for Hamilton, he threw five interceptions.[12] He appeared in a total of 16 games for the Tiger-Cats in 1979, completing 61 of 140 passes for 794 yards, four touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.[13] In May 1980, Smith announced his retirement from professional football.[14]