Bruce Bernard Smith (born June 18, 1963, Norfolk, VA) is widely considered one of the greatest defensive ends in NFL history .
He played 19 seasons (1985–2003), 15 with the Buffalo Bills and four with the Washington Redskins. Detroit: first overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by Buffalo and became the centerpiece of their famous 4‑Super Bowl runs .
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🏆 Career Highlights
•NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200 career sacks (171 with Buffalo) .
•Recorded double-digit sacks in 13 seasons (most in NFL history) .
•Selected to 11 Pro Bowls and earned 8 first-team All‑Pro selections .
•NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and again in 1996 .
•Crucial part of the dominant early‑1990s Buffalo Bills, appearing in four straight AFC Championship Games and Super Bowls .
•Holds franchise single-season sack record (19.0 in 1990) .
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College & Honors
At Virginia Tech, Smith was a consensus All‑American, Outland Trophy winner (1984), and racked up 46 sacks and 71 TFLs—earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 .
In 2009, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot . The Bills retired his No. 78 jersey in 2016, making him one of only two players to receive that honor .
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Off the Field & Legacy
•Career Totals: 200 sacks, 1,224 tackles, 43 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 2 safeties, 1 TD .
•Post-NFL, he’s ventured into real estate/hotel development in Virginia Beach and engaged in charitable work, including an energy initiative with Thurman Thomas .
•Recently discussed the lasting toll of his career: knee replacement surgery, chronic pain, yet maintains pride in his accomplishments and bond with “Bills Mafia” fans .