Urban Meyer, Eric Weddle, Brian Johnson Congratulate Alex Smith On NFL Comeback Award
Feb 6, 2021, 8:51 PM | Updated: 9:20 pm
Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team looks to pass during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah greats Urban Meyer, Eric Weddle and Brian Johnson congratulated Alex Smith on winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
The NFL announced that Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith earned Comeback Player of the Year.
When the award was announced, the NFL released a video of a montage full of people in the game and his family that had a message for Smith on his comeback to the football field.
The following is the acceptance speech from Smith.
“Thank you for this incredible honor,” Smith said. “Playing this game takes a physical toll and there are so many guys that are deserving of this recognition. Two years ago, I was sitting in a wheel chair wondering ‘had the life I had known changed forever?’ Anger, pity, self doubt, why me? These were feelings that I had at certain points throughout my career. But this time it wasn’t about football. It was bigger. Me being a father and playing with my children. A husband to go on walks with my wife. And despite my new limitations, me getting my life back.”
Check out the full speech below.
Alex Smith. 2020 Comeback Player of the Year. 🙏🙏 #NFLHonors @WashingtonNFL pic.twitter.com/cKZHm0CYxJ
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021
The video was narrated by Joe Theismann, who suffered the same injury as Smith when he was with Washington many years ago.
One of the greatest comeback stories in sports history. As told by Joe Theismann.#NFLHonors | @Theismann7 pic.twitter.com/IJJfcTAJRZ
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021
Theismann narrated the message for the first 1:46 before messages from many different people from either his college or NFL days. Meyer, Weddle and Johnson all have either been in the league or are now in the NFL. Weddle finished his first season retired from the NFL, while Meyer just became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Johnson is the QB coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Alex, what’s up bro?” Weddle said. “A story to be told. Just want to say that I love you, I look up to you and you inspire us all, man. Congrats.”
“Hey Alex, this is your old coach, one of your greatest admirers,” Meyer stated. “You’re an inspiration to me, always have been. From that skinny 190 pound quarterback that took over and became the best player in college football in 2004. Love ya.”
“The strength that you and Liz have both displayed to navigate such a difficult time has been nothing short of amazing,” Johnson said.
Others that sent messages to Smith included Hall of Famer Joe Montana, Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, NFL star RB Eddie George, former Chiefs OC and current Bears head coach Matt Nagy. Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, legends Rod Woodson and Tim Brown, former TE Vernon Davis, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, and Alex’s wife Liz.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
