Alabama brings in inspirational former NFL QB as guest speaker

Alabama has had quite the guest list of speakers visit its football team this preseason, including Ernie Johnson Jr. of TNT Sports, and former baseball star Alex Rodriguez.

The latest guest speaker was former NFL quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith, who recently retired from football, has an inspirational story. He came back from a life-threatening leg injury and ended a nearly two-year absence by playing in 8 games for Washington last season.

The first appearance by Smith last season came off the bench on Oct. 11, about 23 months since a spinal fracture in his right leg resulted in a life-threatening infection. Smith had 17 surgeries over 9 months to save and repair the leg, the Associated Press reported.

“Two years ago, I was stuck in a wheelchair, staring down at my mangled leg, wondering if I’d ever be able to go on a walk with my wife again or play games with my kids in the yard,” Smith said in his retirement video.

“Putting my helmet back on was the farthest thing from my mind. … But then, someone did something that changed my recovery completely. He put a football back in my hands. I don’t know what it was, but all of a sudden, I felt stronger, more driven, and what once seemed impossible began to come into focus.”

Perspective.

Thank you, Alex Smith for stopping by and talking to our team!#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/lG7TRfmH1h

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 15, 2021

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.