Marvel Amos Smith (born August 6, 1978) is a former
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
offensive tackle who played nine seasons in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). He played
college football for
Arizona State University. He was drafted by the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15– 16, 2000, at the Thea ...
, and also was a member of the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
. A one-time
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players.
The format has changed thro ...
selection, Smith earned two
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the team members of the winning team of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl. Since only one Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the team (ownership) itsel ...
s with the Steelers.
Early years
Smith attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California, and was a top student and a letterman in football. In football, he was a two-time All-City selection.
College career
Smith attended
Arizona State University, where he was an
All-America
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...
n first-team selection in 1999, having only allowed one sack all season. He earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Professional career
Pittsburgh Steelers
Smith was selected by the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (38th overall) in the
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15– 16, 2000, at the Thea ...
. He was selected to represent the
AFC in the
2005 Pro Bowl for the first time after winning
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion f ...
. Smith was considered by many to be one of the most important players on the Steelers' offensive line. Unfortunately, back injuries hampered him at the end of 2007 and limited him to a handful of games in 2008. The Steelers chose not to re-sign him after his 2003, 6-year, $26 million contract lapsed in the 2009 offseason.
San Francisco 49ers
An
unrestricted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is ...
after the 2008 season, Smith agreed to terms with the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
on March 27, 2009. The deal contained a maximum value of $10.5 million. Smith announced his retirement on August 28.
49ers Tackle Marvel Smith Retires, Offensive Line Depth a Concern
/ref>
References
External links
Pittsburgh Steelers bio
San Francisco 49ers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Marvel
1978 births
Living people
Players of American football from Oakland, California
African-American players of American football
American football offensive tackles
American Conference Pro Bowl players
Arizona State Sun Devils football players
Pittsburgh Steelers players
San Francisco 49ers players
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople