Player
Telvin Smith
LB (retired)
Telvin Smith: facts drawn from the play-by-play.
5-year career, all in Jacksonville. 1x Pro Bowler (2017) before voluntarily retiring at age 28.
MilestoneTelvin Smith career honors
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 2014-2018 |
| Team | JAX only |
| Pro Bowls | 1 (2017) |
| Career INTs | 7 |
| Draft | 5th round (#144) 2014 |
Led JAX to the AFC Championship Game in Jan 2018 — the franchise's deepest playoff run since 1999.
MilestoneSmith 2017 playoff run
| Round | Result |
|---|---|
| Wild Card | W vs BUF 10-3 |
| Divisional | W @PIT 45-42 |
| AFC Title | L @NE 24-20 |
| JAX 2017 record | 10-6 AFC South champ |
Voluntarily retired before the 2019 season at age 28 — citing personal/family reasons. Never returned to the NFL.
AnomalySmith retirement
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Retired age | 28 |
| Year | May 2019 |
| Last NFL season | 2018 |
| Return to NFL | Never |
| Reason | Personal/family |
Tackle production climbed every year of his career — peaking at 171 in 2017, his Pro Bowl year.
TrendSmith tackle progression
| Year | Tackles |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 81 (rookie) |
| 2015 | 117 |
| 2016 | 115 |
| 2017 | 171 |
| 2018 | 134 |
At 218 lbs, he was among the lightest starting NFL ILBs of the 2010s — a sideline-to-sideline coverage specialist.
ComparisonLightest starting NFL ILBs (2010s)
| Player | Weight |
|---|---|
| Telvin Smith | 218 lb |
| Deone Bucannon | 211 lb |
| Bobby Wagner | 242 lb |
He's 1 of only a few NFL Pro Bowlers since 2000 to voluntarily retire before age 30 while still in their prime.
RarePro Bowl retirees age <30
| Player | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Calvin Johnson | 30 | 2016 |
| Patrick Willis | 30 | 2015 |
| Telvin Smith | 28 | 2019 |
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