You hear the name and probably think about a slap at the Oscars or a Fresh Prince. But for anyone who bleed Black and Gold in New Orleans, or wore Scarlet and Gray in Columbus, the name Will Smith football player carries a completely different weight. It’s a name that signifies a dominant pass rusher, a Super Bowl champion, and unfortunately, one of the most senseless tragedies in modern sports history.
Will Smith wasn't just another guy on the roster. He was a foundational piece of a New Orleans Saints era that literally saved a city.
Honestly, it’s easy to get lost in the noise of celebrity culture. But the football-playing Will Smith—specifically William Raymond Smith III—was a 6-foot-3, 280-pound force of nature. He was born on the Fourth of July in 1981, which is kinda fitting given the explosive way he played the game. He didn't just play defensive end; he owned the edge.
From Ohio State Dominance to the Big Easy
Before he was terrorizing NFL quarterbacks, Smith was a legend at Ohio State. He was a cornerstone of that 2002 National Championship team. You’ve gotta remember how tough that squad was. Smith was a First-team All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2003. When the Saints took him 18th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, they weren't just getting a fast kid off the edge. They were getting a leader.
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His rookie year was an absolute statement. 7.5 sacks. Forced fumbles in five straight games—a club record that still stands. Basically, he showed up and immediately told the league he belonged.
Why the Will Smith football player Legacy Still Matters
If you look at the 2009 Saints season, everyone talks about Drew Brees. That makes sense, he's a Hall of Famer. But that defense? That defense was nasty, and Will Smith was the engine. He put up 13 sacks that year. In the NFL, that’s elite territory. He was an honorable mention All-Pro and the guy everyone in the locker room looked to when things got tight.
The Saints don’t win Super Bowl XLIV without number 91. Period.
It wasn't just the stats, though. Smith was a captain. He was the guy who helped the franchise transition from the post-Katrina "Aints" era into a legitimate powerhouse. He played nine seasons in New Orleans, racking up 67.5 career sacks. That puts him fourth all-time in franchise history. He was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame posthumously, a bittersweet honor for a man who gave everything to that city.
The Night Everything Changed
The tragedy happened on April 9, 2016. It started as a simple traffic dispute in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. A fender bender. Words were exchanged with a man named Cardell Hayes. It escalated. It turned into gunfire.
Smith was shot and killed. He was only 34 years old.
His wife, Racquel, was also shot but survived. It was a "sick irony," as his family publicist once put it, that a man who represented the resilience of New Orleans would be taken by the very gun violence the city has struggled with for decades. The toxicology report later showed Smith had a high blood alcohol content, which defense lawyers used to argue he was the aggressor, but the loss felt total regardless of the legal nuances.
Different Players, Same Name
It’s worth noting that the "Will Smith" name pops up elsewhere in football. There was a linebacker from Texas Tech who had a stint with the Cowboys and in the CFL. More recently, people have been searching for a Will Smith football player in the college ranks or young prospects like Melvin Smith Jr. (who some mix up).
But the "real" Will Smith in terms of NFL impact will always be the Saints defensive end.
Career Highlights at a Glance
- 2002: BCS National Champion with Ohio State.
- 2003: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
- 2004: NFL All-Rookie Team.
- 2006: Pro Bowl selection after a 10.5-sack season.
- 2009: Super Bowl XLIV Champion with 13 sacks on the season.
- 2016: Posthumous induction into the Saints Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor.
Lessons from a Life Cut Short
When we look back at Smith's career, there’s a lot to take away for young athletes. He was consistent. He wasn't a "flash in the pan" type of player. He stayed with one team for his entire active career (aside from a brief preseason stint with the Patriots at the very end).
- Loyalty pays off. Staying in New Orleans made him a local icon.
- Versatility is key. In 2013, he was actually trying to move to outside linebacker to fit a new scheme before an ACL injury slowed him down.
- Off-field impact lasts. His foundation, "Where There’s a Will There’s a Way," focused on at-risk youth. That work continues to help kids in Utica, New York, and Louisiana today.
The court case surrounding his death dragged on for years with overturned convictions and retrials, keeping the wound open for the fans and his three children. But if you want to honor the Will Smith football player legacy, look at the 2009 tape. Watch him peel off a block to grab an interception against Buffalo or chase down Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl.
That’s the guy New Orleans remembers.
If you're looking to dive deeper into Saints history, start by watching the "Rebirth" game from 2006 or the Super Bowl XLIV highlights. Seeing Smith in action during those years gives you a much better perspective on why he was the heartbeat of that defensive line for nearly a decade.