Veteran offensive tackle Donovan Smith has officially announced his retirement from the NFL, ending a nine-year career that saw him win two rings.
The 32-year-old made the announcement via his Instagram account on Sunday, reflecting on a journey that took him from a second-round pick to a star tackle.
In an emotional post on his Instagram, Smith wrote: ‘When I first started out this journey in 7th grade, I didn’t know what the other side would hold.
‘Football has made me feel and experience every emotion imaginable. It has also equipped me with lifelong lessons and tools on how to cope and deal with all things life may throw your way.
‘I’ve gained lifelong friendships with people in the locker rooms I’ve walked and people behind the scenes that day in and day out make us, as athletes, the best we can be to be able to run out that tunnel on game days and perform.
‘It has blessed me with a college degree and the abilities and resources to provide for my family and more. Thank you to all that has helped me through the years along my football career.
Veteran offensive tackle Donovan Smith has officially announced his retirement from the NFL
Smith spent the vast majority of his career with the Buccaneers and helped protect Tom Brady
‘It has allowed me to grow and experience life in ways I can’t put into words. I am forever grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the many blessings in my life and look forward to the new doors that will be opened for me on the other side of retirement.
‘I was able to gain more from the game than I could imagine,’ Smith wrote in a moving tribute to the sport that he has played since he was in the seventh grade.
Smith spent the vast majority of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him with the 34th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
He became a consistent force in Florida, starting every single game he appeared in across eight seasons while protecting the team’s blindside.
The highlight of his tenure in Tampa came during the 2020 season, where he played a vital role in protecting Tom Brady during a Super Bowl run.
After being released by the Buccaneers in 2023, Smith landed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to protect superstar Patrick Mahomes.
The move proved to be a masterstroke, as he immediately stepped into the starting lineup and helped the Chiefs secure a victory in Super Bowl LVIII.
