Most avid Chiefs fans can cite the exploits of the great players in team history, but there are many other players who have escaped the hype but yet played vital roles in their teams' success and, for one reason or another, have slipped the minds of many fans then and now. Throughout the year, we profile some who did more than simply play a part when they took the field for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Special teams have always held a special place for Kansas City coaches. The legendary Hank Stram was one of the first professional coaches to spend considerable time on special teams, and later Frank Gansz attained a reputation as one of the finest coaches in the history of special teams. More recently, Dave Toub, a member of Andy Reid's staff, continues to add to his already respected reputation as one of the NFL's finest special team coaches.
A few years ago, Dante Hall was recognized as a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame, and his play brought to mind the exploits of J.T. Smith, a talented return specialist of his own from an earlier era.
Both Hall and Smith were recognized primarily as returners, but each was also a wide receiver — with Smith probably more identified at that position. Hall was named his decade's finest returner and Smith, had they had such a designation in his time, might have garnered the same title.
Smith was a jack-of-all-trades with the Chiefs and a master of many. He had the disposition of a special teams player and served on kickoff coverage teams, but he soon became better known as a punt returner — the greatest punt returner in team history to that time — surpassing Noland "Super Gnat" Smith, Larry "The Burner" Brunson and Larry Marshall.
Marv Levy was the Chiefs coach to find out how good Smith was; he had not visualized him as his punt returner until late in training camp in 1979. Kansas City had picked him up after he was released by Washington, and in his first game against San Diego, he was given the game-ball for special teams play. He went on to win one each year until 1984.
Watching Smith return a punt 55 yards against the Oilers — the first time a Kansas City player accomplished that feat since 1968 — Levy was sold. He returned two for touchdowns in 1979 and two more in 1980. His 88-yarder against Oakland was the franchise's longest ever at the time, and his 612 and 581 return yards were first and second in the team's record book.
In 1980, he led the NFL with a 14.5-yard average on 40 punt returns.
What made Smith good as a returner was his knack for surveying the coverage and making quick moves. He was not gifted with great speed, but once he saw an opening, he immediately took off.
On a team without many stars, he was its only member to make First-Team All-Pro in 1980 as a member of the Pro Bowl team, and he received All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, Football Digest and the Pro Football Writers.
While most fans who can recall anything of Smith remember him as a return specialist, he became a great receiver when given the chance. He was hard-pressed to get much pass catching on a team with Carlos Carson, Henry Marshall, Anthony Hancock and Stephon Paige. But in 1980, he caught 46 passes, and the following year, 63 passes. As an outstanding special teams player, he was also a great blocker as a wide receiver.
But with the arrival of new head coach John Mackovic, he almost exclusively became a special teams player and caught only 25 passes.
Smith had to go elsewhere to realize what he could do as a receiver. He was eventually waived and caught on with the St. Louis Cardinals, where his career flourished both as a returner and especially as a pass-receiver. He led the NFL in receiving in the strike-shortened season of 1987. He spent six seasons with the Cardinals as they moved from St. Louis to Phoenix, and realized first-team status on every all-star team in the NFL.
