No. 2 – Dennis Smith
Draft: 1981 (15th overall, Denver Broncos
Broncos career: 1981-94 (184 games)
Pro Bowl: Six (1985, ’86, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93)
Super Bowl: XXI, XXII, XXIV
Wide receivers from the 1980s probably still shudder hearing Smith’s name. He established a reputation as a bone-crunching, tireless strong safety during his 14 seasons in Denver.
But since I couldn’t find a quote from an opponent, let teammate Karl Mecklenburg tell you himself.
“A guy that was as tough of an individual as you’d ever see. There were players across the league who were just scared to death of Dennis,” Mecklenburg said. “He would knock somebody out every third or fourth game – out cold. He knocked me out cold one time by accident. I remember seeing the ball, and the next thing I saw was the trainer.”
Six Pro Bowls is an impressive achievement, but Smith really should have gone to a seventh in 1983. He had a career-high five sacks that season, along with 114 tackles – the first of five 100+ tackle seasons to follow.
Former head coach Mike Shanahan said Smith “is the hardest hitter I have ever been around. On any team. Bar none.”
Smith finished with 1,171 tackles, 30 interceptions and 15 sacks, and 17 recovered fumbles, making him the greatest safety in Broncos history second to just one other, his backfield partner for six years.
