Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl Champion and eight year starter Donovan Smith retired on Sunday. He announced the news on Instagram.
Smith wrote, “Dear Football,
When I first started out this journey in 7th grade, I didn’t know what the other side would hold. With dedication, self-awareness, hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, treating people with kindness and respect, and capitalizing on the opportunities presented to me, I was able to gain more from the game than I could imagine.
Football has made me feel and experience every emotion imaginable. It has also equipped me with lifelong lessons and tools on how to cope and deal with all things life may throw your way. It’s allowed me to grow in my faith, maturation as a man, brother, father, son, and servant to my community. I’ve gained lifelong friendships with people in the locker rooms I’ve walked and people behind the scenes that day in and day out make us, as athletes, the best we can be to be able to run out that tunnel on game days and perform. It has blessed me with a college degree and the abilities and resources to provide for my family and more.
Thank you to all that has helped me through the years along my football career. It has allowed me to grow and experience life in ways I can’t put into words. I am forever grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the many blessings in my life and look forward to the new doors that will be opened for me on the other side of retirement.”
Donovan Smith is a Top 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneer of All Time
GettyDonovan Smith was always a consistent presence for the Buccaneers from 2015-2022.
Smith started 136 games in the NFL. 124 of those were with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith was a key factor of the Buccaneers offensive line when they won the Super Bowl in 2021. Sadly, the Buccaneers released him following the 2022 season. He left the Buccaneers for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.
Subsequently, Smith retires as one of the most valuable Tampa Bay Buccaneers of all time. From 2015 to 2022, he was always a reliable option as a blocker and starting tackle. According to Pro Football Reference, Smith ranks 18th all time in approximate value. PFF’s average grade for Smith was 67.68. However, his best season was in 2021 when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. He scored a 83.3 grade that season.
Donovan Smith Career Earnings and Accomplishments
GettyDonovan Smith’s long career allowed him to succeed.
Unfortunately, Smith failed to quality for any Pro Bowl or All Pro honors. However, he made over $66 million in his career. He won two Super Bowl championships. One with the Buccaneers during the 2021-22 season, but he also won with the Chiefs during the 2023-24 championship run. He helped the Chiefs solidify their offensive line. After he departed Kansas City, the offensive line became an issue for the Chiefs for the following seasons. They almost brough him back, but a deal never materialized. He was not signed by a team after that season.
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