What is Bruce Smith's Net Worth?
Bruce Smith is a former professional football defensive end who has a net worth of $12 million. Bruce Smith played in the NFL from 1985 to 2003, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. Regarded as one of the best defensive ends of all time, he appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls and became the NFL's all-time career leader in sacks, with 200. Smith also earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Early Life and Education
Bruce Smith was born on June 18, 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Booker T. Washington High School, where he had an all-state high school football career. Smith went on to attend Virginia Tech on an athletic scholarship. On the Hokies football team, he recorded 46 career sacks, including an NCAA-leading 22 during his junior season in 1983. As a senior in 1984, Smith won the Outland Trophy as the top college lineman in the nation, and was also a consensus selection to the All-America team. He finished his career at Virginia Tech as the most honored player in Hokies history.
Buffalo Bills
In the 1985 NFL Draft, Smith was chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the first overall pick. He had a disappointing rookie year with the team, recording just 6.5 sacks in 13 starts. However, Smith started performing to his potential in the 1986 season, finding inspiration from teammate Darryl Talley and love with a college counselor. That season, he recorded 15 sacks. In 1987, Smith earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. He went on to appear in his first postseason in 1988-89, helping the Bills reach the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After that season, Smith became a restricted free agent and signed an offer sheet with the Denver Broncos. Concerned about Smith due to his substance abuse problems, the Bills had undercover detectives follow him in late 1989. Ultimately, the team decided to retain him, and Smith became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. He had a strong 1989 season, recording 13 sacks and making his third consecutive Pro Bowl. Back in the playoffs, Smith and the Bills reached the Divisional Round, where they fell to the Cleveland Browns.
Smith had one of his greatest career seasons in 1990, recording a career-high 19 sacks and earning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. His exceptional performance helped lead the Bills to Super Bowl XXV, where they just narrowly lost to the New York Giants. Although Smith missed most of the 1991 season due to knee problems, the Bills once again reached the Super Bowl, this time losing to the Washington Redskins. The team would go on to appear in two more consecutive Super Bowls, losing to the Dallas Cowboys both times. After failing to make the playoffs in the 1994 season, the Bills came back strong to win the AFC East in 1995. The team went on to lose in the Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, Smith was continuing to put up major numbers; in 1996, he recorded 90 combined tackles and 13.5 sacks, earning him his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The following year, he posted 65 tackles and 14 sacks. Smith played his final season with the Bills in 1999. After that season, he was dumped from the team roster in an emergency salary cap measure.
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Washington Redskins
Smith signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 2000. Although he was playing in mostly passing situations at this time, he recorded 58 tackles and ten sacks in his first season with the team. Eyeing Reggie White's all-time sacks record of 198, Smith eventually passed White's record in Week 14 of the 2003 season. After four seasons with the Redskins, Smith was released in early 2004. He finished his NFL career with 200 career sacks, the most of all time.
Post-football Career
Since his time in the NFL, Smith has worked in real estate in his home state of Virginia. He focuses on large-scale hotel design projects, often in partnership with Armada Hoffler. In Blacksburg, where he went to school, he purchased the Red Lion Inn. Smith also built a Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. Elsewhere, he has worked with fellow former Bills player Thurman Thomas in Legends Energy Group, an organization that promotes energy programs throughout North America.
Personal Life & Real Estate
With his wife Carmen, whom he married in 1990, Smith has a son named Alston. In 1994 Bruce and Carmen paid $470,000 for a 1.6 acre property in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A year later they completed construction on a 7,000 square foot mansion that today is likely worth around $3 million.
