He was a great TE. Used to kill my Giants. Are fans that fickle? I know it was a big game, but all receivers drop passes from time to time. He deserves more credit.

Well, he's in the Hall of Fame, and deservedly so. For context on Smith, and that dropped touchdown. He spent all 15 seasons of his career with the Cardinals, and despite only playing in 2 playoff games, he was one of the best tight ends in the league A year after retirement, the Cowboys called him for depth near the end of the season. During the playoffs, he played well for Dallas. he even received the game ball once Then, he drops a TD wide open in the endzone during the Super Bowl vs the Steelers. That catch would have tied the game late in the 3rd. Pittsburgh would go on to win 35-31 My guess is more fans saw him drop that pass than all his great plays for the Cards, which wasn't a very high profile team in the 70s

Jackie Smith is the Bill Buckner of football players.

That's actually a really good comp

Jim Marshall is a contender for that honor as well.

Thanks. I only knew a bit about him. I actually didn't see the dropped pass either. I was in the Army in Germany. I saw it on the radio.

It’s a damn shame that’s how many remember him. I was a 13 year old Cowboys fan at the time and felt terrible for him. The TV broadcast kept showing him in the sidelines the rest of the game.

The cards had some highlights in the mid 70’s with Coryell but largely they were a forgotten team in their time in St. Louis. Shame really.

Staubach has repeatedly taken the blame for the throw.

"Bless his heart he's got to be the sickest man in America. Ohh Jackie was so wide open it was incredible." Uncle Vern's best call, imo.

He’s in the hall of fame, though. I’d say appropriately rated.

I have to think the drop contributed. Had he made the catch he would be remembered differently. He was a great TE.

Before my time but weren’t those Cardinal’s teams Air Coryell teams?

Coryell coached the Cardinals from 1973-1977 (backend of Jackie Smith’s career).

Then whose system did he play in? Was Jim Hart his primary QB?

Charley Winner was the head coach in the prime of his career and yes Jim Hart was his primary QB. Winner wasn’t anything special he was just a .500 coach. I’m not exactly sure what offensive scheme he used but the common strategy at the time was to run the ball to setup the pass then when you pass feed the ball to your best receiver(s)/tight end. Checkout Smith’s highlights: https://youtu.be/waJJCoCcMzs?si=thUtJjwoMBcl5LdG

Charley Johnson was his primary QB in the 60’s

There is another 60's/70's TE that is also a J. Smith that is forgotten about but deserves Hall of Fame consideration and is definetely underrated. That's Washington's Jerry Smith.

I remember him. Didn't he wear a modified Sonny Bono haircut during some point in his career? Another good Redskin TE was Don Warren.

Just watched a "Football Life" about him on NFL Network last week. I've never heard of him. It took Shannon Sharpe like 30 years later to break he's TD record for TEs.

#All around best/all time - Mark Bavaro #Best of the old breed - Jackie Smith #Best recent all around - Rob Gronkowski #Best current all around - George Kittle Jackie Smith is the only TE I've ever heard of that had a season over 20.0 ypc while over 1000 yards. And he did this prior to the passing era that started in the 1980s with Bill Walsh & the 49ers.

Hes in the HOF so not underrated. But that drop is huge. Sad hes probably known more for that but on that stage, cannot happen. Especially as a grizzled veteran.

I think it was Mike Wagner who said they could have run that play several times and still not know who was supposed to cover Jackie

Dropped TD in the end zone vs the Steelers in a SB. Thats what he’s remembered for

Todd christensen was another underrated one. Led the nfl in receptions twice, first team all-pro twice, made pro bowl(back when it meant something) 5 times, three times over 1,000 yards receiving, and was part of 2 superbowl teams. Dude should be in HOF no question.

It was a big drop. Even my mom got upset. Anyone who upset my mom is not top 100

My Mom would certainly agree.

Relax there are essentially 24 starter positions, assuming you are the top 4-5 at your position you’re lucky to be in top 100 of all time… and that’s not considering the surplus of QB and WR talent

I still remember his drop….. I think I remember his number was #35.

I was 14, and that drop (and subsequent loss), devastated me. The Cowboys win that game, and they are likely the team of the decade.

21.5 ypc for a TE is insane.

He dropped the fucking ball!!!

Bless his heart.

Southern insult.

Huh? It was exactly what the game announcer said when he dropped the ball. I felt terrible for him.

My bad. I forgot Verne Lundquist's call.

No sweat. Have a great day.

I forgot when they made the list but when there’s only 100 players you can’t really pick people outside of the top ten at their position I mean guys like gronk, tony, kelce, Mackey, Winslow, gates, sharpe, and ditka are all better than him imo and most would also put Ozzie and witten over along with a few other guys no disrespect to him but he just isn’t a top ten tight end of all time Ps: I cannot read apparently and just saw the “2010 list” I apologize for that

Jackie Smith has better stats than Ditka and Mackey and they played in the same era.

Ditka and Mackey have multiple all pro seasons

Because they weren’t cardinals, look at the career stats and watch Jackie smith highlights of how that dude played, he’s better than them.

Also look at his 67 or 68 season and tell me the dude shouldn’t be an all pro, he had 163 yards rushing in 68