If you were a fan of the "Ground and Pound" era, you remember the feeling when #16 stepped onto the field. It wasn't the usual quarterback change. It was electric. Brad Smith NY Jets highlights aren't just a collection of catches or runs; they are a blueprint for how one player can break an entire defensive game plan.
Honestly, he was basically the human Swiss Army knife before that term became a tired cliché in NFL broadcasts.
Most people think of the "Wildcat" and immediately picture Ronnie Brown or maybe Tim Tebow. But if you actually watched those Rex Ryan teams from 2009 and 2010, you know Brad Smith was the secret sauce. He didn't just play a position. He was a system. He was a wide receiver, a quarterback, a gunner on special teams, and arguably the most dangerous kick returner in the league for a two-year stretch.
The Shoe-Less Sprint and the 2010 Magic
Remember the Thanksgiving game in 2010 against the Bengals?
It’s one of those "where were you" moments for Jets fans. Brad Smith takes the opening kickoff of the second half. He hits a hole, finds daylight, and suddenly, his left shoe flies off. He doesn't even flinch. He sprints 89 yards for a touchdown with one sock exposed to the cold turf. It was gritty. It was weird. It was perfectly Brad Smith.
That season was peak versatility. He averaged 28.6 yards per return, which was second in the NFL. But he wasn't just a "specialist."
In that same 2010 season, he was the engine of the "TigerCat" formation. While Mark Sanchez was the face of the franchise, Smith was the one keeping defensive coordinators awake at night. You've got to realize how hard it is to prepare for a guy who can throw a 40-yard dime to Jerricho Cotchery on a direct snap and then turn around and burn your nickel corner on a fly route the next series.
Why the NFL Drafted a QB to Play Everything
Coming out of Missouri, Smith was a legend. He was the first player in NCAA history to pass for over 8,000 yards and rush for over 4,000. That’s a staggering amount of production.
Yet, when the 2006 NFL Draft rolled around, scouts were skeptical.
"Is he a real quarterback?"
"Can he actually run routes?"
The Jets, under Eric Mangini at the time, saw the 6'2", 213-pound frame and the 4.49 speed and decided they didn't care what the label was. They took him in the fourth round, and for five years, he became the ultimate insurance policy. If a receiver got hurt, Brad was there. If the running game stalled, put Brad in the Wildcat.
The 106-Yard Record That Still Stands
If you look at the Jets record books today, you'll still see his name at the very top of one specific category.
On December 27, 2009, against the Indianapolis Colts—a team that was undefeated at the time—Smith took a kickoff 106 yards to the house. It remains the longest play in New York Jets history.
It wasn't just a fluke, either.
During his tenure in New York, he scored touchdowns via:
- Rushing (including those signature Wildcat keepers)
- Receiving (he had over 500 yards in a Jets jersey)
- Kick Returns (three of them for the Green and White)
- Passing (he threw for scores against the Bills and others)
- Blocked Punt (he even found the endzone on special teams defense)
Basically, if the ball was in his hands, there was a non-zero chance he was going to score. Mike Westhoff, the legendary special teams coordinator, once said that Smith was one of the few players he never had to worry about. He just understood the geometry of the field.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Exit
There's a common misconception that the Jets let him go because he wasn't producing. That’s just not true. After the 2010 season, Smith was a hot commodity. He was a free agent, and the Buffalo Bills came calling with a four-year, $15 million deal.
The Jets simply couldn't—or wouldn't—match that for a "utility" player.
When he left for Buffalo in 2011, the Jets' offense lost its unpredictability. They tried to replace him with others, eventually even trading for Tim Tebow to run the Wildcat, but it never felt the same. Tebow was a power runner; Brad Smith was a slash runner. There's a huge difference in how a defense has to pursue a guy who can cut at full speed versus a guy who tries to run through you.
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Smith spent three years in Buffalo and finished his career with the Eagles in 2014. While he still made plays, he never quite captured that same "cult hero" status he had at MetLife Stadium.
Brad Smith: The Man Beyond the Jersey
You'd think a guy with that kind of highlight reel would be a big personality.
Kinda the opposite, actually.
In a locker room that featured Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, and Antonio Cromartie, Brad Smith was famously quiet. He was a graduate student in economics while playing in the NFL. He wasn't at the clubs; he was studying. That intelligence translated to the field. You can't play five different positions at a pro level if you aren't a literal genius when it comes to the playbook.
Where is he now?
As of 2026, the transition from "Slash" to "Businessman" is complete. He didn't just retire and disappear. He leaned into that economics degree. Smith has been heavily involved in the NFL Players Association and various entrepreneurial ventures. He’s often cited as one of the best examples of "life after football" success, avoiding the common pitfalls many former athletes face.
The Actionable Legacy of #16
If you're a coach or a player looking at Brad Smith's career, there are real takeaways here. He proved that "specialization" is a choice, not a requirement.
- For players: Diversifying your skill set is the best way to ensure a long career. Smith played 9 seasons in a league where the average is 3. He was too useful to cut.
- For fans: Appreciate the guys who don't make the Pro Bowl every year but make the plays that win the games. Without Brad Smith, those 2009 and 2010 AFC Championship runs probably don't happen.
- For the Jets: The search for the next "versatile weapon" continues, but finding a guy who can actually pass, catch, and return at an elite level is rarer than finding a franchise QB.
Brad Smith remains the gold standard for the modern utility player. He didn't need a starting QB job to be the most important player on the field for a dozen Sundays a year. He just needed the ball and, occasionally, both of his shoes.
To truly understand his impact, go back and watch the 2010 AFC Divisional game against the Patriots. Watch how the most disciplined defense in football had to freeze every time he moved in motion. That's the Brad Smith effect. It wasn't about the stats; it was about the fear of what he might do.
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Next Steps for Jets Historians:
Check the official NFL archives for the 2009 season Week 16 highlights to see the 106-yard return in real-time. It’s a masterclass in blocking and vision that still serves as the benchmark for the Jets' special teams unit.