Charlie Smith (wide receiver)
Encyclopedia
Charles Albert Smith is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He played eight seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles
(1974
-1981
). He played college football
at Grambling State.
following the 1973 NFL Draft
. At the beginning of the 1973 season
, the Rams released Smith, and attempted to re-sign him for the 1974 season
. Smith did not re-sign with them, because he knew that all the Rams' receivers would be coming back the following season, and Lance Rentzel
would be back after being suspended for the season.
' team, and signed with them. Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael
, who attended Southern University, was Smith's rival in college due to their teams playing in the same conference
. Eagles defensive end
Ricky Harris played with Smith at Grambling State.
In 1974
, Smith returned four punts for seven yards and did not catch any passes. In 1975
, Smith became the Eagles starting wide receiver alongside Carmichael. Smith caught 37 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He also rushed for 85 yards on nine carries. In 1976
, Smith caught 27 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns. He had nine carries for 25 yards and one touchdown. In 1977
, Smith made 33 receptions for 464 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two carries for 13 yards. In 1978
, he caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He made 24 catches for 399 yards and one touchdown in 1979
.
In 1980
, Smith had the best season of his career, hauling in 47 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed five times for 33 yards. In Super Bowl XV
against the Oakland Raiders
, Smith caught two passes for 59 yards. In his final season in 1981
, Smith made 38 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns, along with two rushes for five yards.
Smith caught 218 passes for 3,349 yards and 24 touchdowns in the eight seasons of his career.
head coach in his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana
, mostly at Wossman High School. Since 1988, Smith has been Wossman High School's track coach.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played eight seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1974
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
-1981
1981 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 1981 Philadelphia Eagles season resulted in an appearance in the postseason.-Offseason:After going 12–4 and winning the NFC title and losing in Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 season the Eagles would be picking next to last in the 12 rounds of the draft-1981 NFL Draft:The 1981...
). He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Grambling State.
St. Louis Rams
Smith signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
following the 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. At the beginning of the 1973 season
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
, the Rams released Smith, and attempted to re-sign him for the 1974 season
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
. Smith did not re-sign with them, because he knew that all the Rams' receivers would be coming back the following season, and Lance Rentzel
Lance Rentzel
Thomas Lance Rentzel is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams from 1965 to 1974.-Early years:...
would be back after being suspended for the season.
Philadelphia Eagles
Smith thought he would have a better chance at making the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' team, and signed with them. Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael
Harold Carmichael
Lee Harold Carmichael is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played 13 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles , and one season for the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Southern University...
, who attended Southern University, was Smith's rival in college due to their teams playing in the same conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
. Eagles defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Ricky Harris played with Smith at Grambling State.
In 1974
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
, Smith returned four punts for seven yards and did not catch any passes. In 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
, Smith became the Eagles starting wide receiver alongside Carmichael. Smith caught 37 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He also rushed for 85 yards on nine carries. In 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, Smith caught 27 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns. He had nine carries for 25 yards and one touchdown. In 1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
, Smith made 33 receptions for 464 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two carries for 13 yards. In 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
, he caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He made 24 catches for 399 yards and one touchdown in 1979
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
.
In 1980
1980 NFL season
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws...
, Smith had the best season of his career, hauling in 47 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed five times for 33 yards. In Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Smith caught two passes for 59 yards. In his final season in 1981
1981 NFL season
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:...
, Smith made 38 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns, along with two rushes for five yards.
Smith caught 218 passes for 3,349 yards and 24 touchdowns in the eight seasons of his career.
After football
From 1985 to 2005, Smith was a high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
head coach in his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, mostly at Wossman High School. Since 1988, Smith has been Wossman High School's track coach.