Riley Smith (American football)

Riley Smith
No. 26
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1911-07-14)July 14, 1911
Carrollton, Mississippi, U.S.
Died:August 9, 1999(1999-08-09) (aged 88)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Columbus
(Columbus, Mississippi)
College:Alabama
NFL draft:1936 / round: 1 / pick: 2
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:30
Starts:27
Carries:45
Rushing yards:58
Receptions:18
Receiving yards:300
Passing yards:290
Total touchdowns:8
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1942–1945
Rank Lieutenant Commander
Battles / warsWorld War II
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Riley Henry Smith (July 14, 1911 – August 9, 1999) was an American football player, a quarterback for the Boston Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) during the mid-1930s. He played college football for the University of Alabama, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American. Drafted in the 1936 NFL draft, he is known for being the first drafted player to play football in the NFL; Jay Berwanger, the only player drafted before him, never played due to salary disagreements. He was also the starting quarterback in the first ever postseason game in Redskins history in 1936 when they made the NFL Championship Game.

After his NFL career ended, he became a coach.[1]

  1. ^ "Former Tide great Riley Smith, 88, dies". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. August 11, 1999. p. 1C.