Alex Smith Returns to the Spotlight with Increased ESPN Role in 2025 NFL Season
On Tuesday, ESPN revealed that it has inked a multi-year extension with former NFL quarterback Alex Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler and No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Per the official release, Smith will have an increased on-air presence throughout the season, including weekly spots on "Sunday NFL Countdown," occasional features on "Get Up" and "First Take" and anchoring roles during Super Bowl coverage.
He joined ESPN back in 2021, entering his fifth season with Sunday NFL Countdown in 2025.
Last season, his coverage included Super Bowl LIX, where he bookended ESPN’s broadcasts, starting with "Postseason NFL Countdown" pregame analysis, then appearing on "NFL Primetime" with Chris Berman and Booger McFarland live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Smith has also conducted interviews with stars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Aaron Rodgers and will appear again this season on SportsCenter and NFL Live as well as "Sunday NFL Countdown" alongside Mike Greenberg, Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan and Adam Schefter.
Alex Smith: From No. 1 Pick to Respected Veteran
Selected first overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Smith entered the league after a standout career at Utah, where he went 21–1 as a starter and led the Utes to a Fiesta Bowl win under coach Urban Meyer.
His NFL journey spanned 16 seasons (2005-2020) with San Francisco, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders, producing:
- Career totals - 35,650 passing yards, 199 touchdowns, 109 interceptions, 62.6% completion rate over 174 games.
- Pro Bowl selections - 2013, 2016, 2017.
- NFL passer rating leader - 2017 (104.7).
- Comeback Player of the Year - 2020, after returning from a life-threatening leg injury that required 17 surgeries and nearly resulted in amputation.
- Team success - Guided Kansas City to four playoff appearances and their first consecutive division titles in franchise history; led Washington to an NFC East title in 2020.
Smith's Transition to Broadcasting
Smith retired in April 2021 and joined ESPN later that year as an NFL analyst.
Initially contributing to "SportsCenter," "Monday Night Countdown" and "Sunday NFL Countdown," he quickly became known for his measured, detail-oriented breakdowns, particularly of quarterback play.
Smith has acknowledged that the transition from player to analyst was initially daunting, given his reputation as a reserved interview subject during his playing days.
"When I played, I was like the most boring interview of all time... I didn’t say anything of meaning because you are coached to do that," Smith said.
Over time, though, he embraced the role and has now become one of the faces of ESPN's NFL coverage.
