Alex Smith

#11 · San Francisco 49ers

Retired 17 Years In The NFL

🏆 NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2020)

Alex's

HAIR

18.3

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Alex Smith or the 49ers?

Alex Smith Legacy

HEYTC AI

Alex Smith, the Bremerton kid who became Utah's BCS Buster quarterback, leading the Utes to a perfect 12-0 season and Fiesta Bowl rout as the first non-AQ conference invader. Drafted No. 1 overall by the 49ers, he endured early bust whispers, then morphed into Kansas City's steady surgeon—five straight years of 400-plus attempts with under 10 picks, peaking with a league-leading 104.7 rating in 2017. His true legend? Defying 17 surgeries on a shredded leg to spark Washington's playoff run, claiming Comeback Player of the Year. Smith embodied grit over glory, retiring as football's ultimate survivor.

Alex Smith Rating Breakdown

Season

Average

Fantasy

Average

Playoffs

Non-Factor

Overall

NPC

7 years with the 49ers

Alex Smith Career Stats via Wikipedia

35,650 Pass Yards

199 Touchdowns

287 INTs

62.6% Comp %

18.3 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Alex Smith

How does Brock Purdy compare to Alex Smith?

Brock Purdy's outgunned Alex Smith's 49ers tenure, bringing the aggression Smith lacked—think that epic Saints playoff shootout where Smith finally unleashed, but mostly he played it safe in Harbaugh's run-heavy setup. Purdy's efficiency trumps Kaep's wild arm and Jimmy G's panic scrambles, making him the best Niners QB since Garcia's miracle comebacks. Smith's legacy? Steady but snooze-fest.

Is Alex Smith in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Alex Smith's not in Canton—his 35,650 yards and 199 TDs over 16 seasons scream solid journeyman, not gold jacket. He dragged the 49ers to NFC title games, gutted out that gruesome leg break in 2018, and mentored rookies like Mahomes in KC, but the voters crave flashier rings or stats. Closest he got was three Pro Bowls.[context]

What is Alex Smith doing now in 2026?

Alex Smith's chilling in broadcast land these days, dropping wisdom on 49ers broadcasts and ESPN gigs—loved his take defending Purdy as no "problem" amid playoff heat. He's knee-deep in business ventures, family time post-retirement, and that quiet charity grind helping injured vets, all while watching his old squad from afar without the weekly grind.

How would Alex Smith perform in today's NFL?

Alex Smith would feast in today's pass-happy NFL—those no-INT dink-and-dunks that defined his 19.14 career rating? Modern rules protect pocket QBs like him, with YAC monsters like CMC turning checkdowns into daggers. His brainy reads and mobility would've inflated stats on Shanahan's squad, maybe sniffing a Pro Bowl ring or two instead of conservative critiques.

How does Alex Smith compare to Joe Montana?

Joe Montana lapped Alex Smith like a Ferrari passing a reliable Camry—Montana's 85.15 rating lit up three Super Bowls, while Smith's 19.14 steered the Niners to NFC title games but no parade. Both franchise pillars, sure, but Joe's frozen ropes to Rice eclipse Smith's safe spirals; it's like comparing Candlestick magic to Santa Clara steadiness.[context]