Steve Smith, who helped spark the Carolina Panthers into the 2004 Super Bowl and led Baltimore Ravens receivers last season, said Monday the upcoming NFL season will be his final campaign.
Smith, who is 36, is entering his 15th NFL season. He played 13 seasons for the Panthers before being released and picked up last year by Baltimore.
He led the Ravens with 79 catches and 1,065 reception yards and also scored six touchdowns. In a revenge game against his former Carolina teammates, Smith struck for 139 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.
“I have a lot of things on my ‘to do’ list that don’t have to do anything with football,” said Smith, who has 13,262 receiving yards on 915 catches for 73 touchdowns plus another 4,023 kick return yards and six touchdowns.
The Panthers lost 32-29 to New England in Smith’s only Super Bowl, but Smith said last month he does not let that absent glory define him.
“If you win the Super Bowl, you get the ring and you walk away, you still have the same bills, the same issues,” he said.
“I don’t allow it to put a value on me anymore. I kind of appreciate what I have, what I’ve been through. I wouldn’t substitute winning one Super Bowl over a 15-year career.”