Aaron Smith life and biography

Aaron Smith is a professional American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.

PRO :
Missed most of the 2009 season with a shoulder injury...has developed into one of the NFL’s top defensive linemen…named to the 2005 Pro Bowl after finishing the 2004 season with a career high eight sacks…drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft (109th overall) by the Steelers…only one player has more tenure on the team than Smith (Ward)…signed a four-year contract extension during the 2007 offseason through the 2011 season…named to the 2008 USA Today All-Joe Team.

2009 (5-5):
Started five games at DE before injuring his shoulder…had two sacks and 13 tackles…placed on Reserve/Injured list before Week 6…9/10 vs. Tennessee: Made his 17th consecutive start at LE…finished with four tackles (three solo) and had three QB pressures…blocked a 31-yard FG attempt by Rob Bironas in the second quarter…9/20 at Chicago: Made his 18th consecutive start at LE…recorded three solo tackles, one sack and three QB pressures…went over 500 tackles (501) for his career…9/27 at Cincinnati: Made his 140th career start at LE…had one assisted tackle and two QB pressures.

2008 (16-16/3-3):
Started all 16 regular-season games for the sixth time in his career...named to the USA Today All-Joe team...finished the season with 62 tackles (53 solo), the third-highest total of his career... added 4.5 sacks and four pass defenses...named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording six solo tackles and one sack in the division-clinching victory at Baltimore in Week 15...started all three postseason games...finished with six postseason tackles (four solo) and one sack.

2007 (11-11/0-0):
Started 11 games…was inactive Weeks 8 and 9 due to a knee injury…was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Dec. 11…still managed to finish second among DL with 39 tackles...added 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries…was fourth on the team with 18 QB pressures...9/9 at Cleveland: Started at LE…had six tackles (four solo) with one sack for a loss of five yards and one fumble recovery…his sack tied him for 10th on the Steelers All-Time sack leader list...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Started in his 38th consecutive game at LE and had three tackles (two solo)…also had two quarterback pressures during the 43 snaps he played .

2006 (16-16):
Started all 16 games at defensive end…finished with 64 tackles and 4.5 sacks…added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…9/7 vs. Miami: Recorded two solo tackles and two quarterback hurries/pressures while logging 34 snaps…teamed with Ike Taylor to tackle Ronnie Brown for a loss of two yards on a crucial third-and-two with 6:32 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Steelers trailing…helped limit Miami to just 38 yards rushing, the lowest against Pittsburgh since Nov. 7, 2004 vs. Philadelphia (23 yards)…9/18 at Jacksonville: Started at LDE and led the team's defensive linemen with three solo tackles…logged 57 plays and recorded one quarterback hurry/pressure…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded five tackles (three solo) while logging 53 plays…added a pass defense and one sack for a loss of five yards…sack gave him 30.5 for his career and moved him into 13th place on the Steelers all-time sack list, passing Chad Brown (30) .

2005 (16-16/4-4):
Started all 16 games and finished with 55 tackles (45 solo), which is the second highest in his career (68 in 2002)…his 55 tackles were tops among Pittsburgh's down linemen…also finished with a personal-best nine postseason tackles, leading all Steelers defensive linemen…had two sacks and seven TFLs in the regular season to go along with his first career interception (at Cincinnati)…9/11 vs. Tennessee: Played 37 defensive snaps and recorded five solo tackles…9/18 at Houston: Played 44 snaps on defense and recorded two solo tackles…9/25 vs. New England: Played 60 snaps…finished with two tackles and a quarterback hurry/pressure .

2004 (16-15/2-2):
Named to his first Pro Bowl after leading the team with eight sacks, tying a career high…followed up the regular season with a strong postseason...9/12 vs. Oakland: Started his 64th straight game for the Steelers and produced another outstanding performance…finished with four tackles—all solo—including a sack and forced a fumble...recovered a fumble and returned it 49 yards…logged 57 defensive plays...9/19 at Baltimore: Finished with five total tackles—three solo—and his second sack of the season…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure...played 58 defensive snaps...9/26 at Miami: Tied for the team lead with three tackles for losses (James Farrior), totaling a team-high four yards…registered six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures…logged 54 defensive plays...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: Finished with one assisted tackle…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures…played 60 defensive snaps .

2003 (16-16):
Finished the season with 52 total tackles (40 solo stops)…also recorded two sacks...started every regular-season game for the third straight season...9/7 vs. Baltimore: Logged 53 defensive plays in season-opener…finished with three solo tackles…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures...10/12 at Denver: Registered his first sack of the season…finished with three total tackles…also was with a credited quarterback hurry/pressure…logged 50 defensive plays...11/2 at Seattle: Finished with five total tackles (four solo), including one for a loss of two yards…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures…played 59 defensive snaps...12/7 vs. Oakland: Registered his second sack of the season and forced a fumble…finished with two total tackles…registered 48 plays...12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Finished with seven total tackles (all solo)…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures…logged 56 defensive plays...12/21 vs. San Diego: Registered three total tackles (two solo)…was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures…played 51 defensive snaps.

2002 (16-16/2-2):
Produced a solid 2002 season, finishing with a career high 68 tackles (60 solo) to go along with 5.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries…9/9 at New England: Played 58 defensive snaps in season-opener…finished with four total tackles (three solo)…also had three quarterback hurries/pressures...9/15 vs. Oakland: Finished with three solo tackles…logged 84 defensive plays…also had two quarterback hurries/pressures...9/29 vs. Cleveland: Played 59 defensive snaps…finished with five total tackles (three solo)…registered his first sack of the season…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures...10/6 at New Orleans: Had a very active day…played 53 defensive snaps…led the team with nine total tackles (seven solo)…also had one quarterback hurry/pressure...10/21 vs. Indianapolis: Was outstanding in Monday Night game…registered eight total tackles (all solo), including a sack for five yards…logged 63 defensive plays…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures.

2001 (16-16/2-2):
Established a career high with eight sacks…finished the season with 50 total tackles (35 solo stops)...9/9 at Jacksonville: Played well in his 16th straight start at left end in season-opener…played 51 defensive snaps…finished with six total tackles (five solo) and had one sack…also registered one tackle for a loss of seven yards...9/30 at Buffalo: Had another excellent performance…logged 48 plays…finished with seven total tackles (five solo)…also had his second sack of the season...10/7 vs. Cincinnati: Logged 56 defensive plays…recorded his third sack of the season and finished with seven total tackles (five solo)...10/14 at Kansas City: Performed superbly…increased his team lead in sacks to four…logged 60 defensive plays…finished with four total tackles (three solo)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure .

2000 (16-15):
Finished with 49 total tackles (38 solo)…led defensive line with four sacks and two passes defensed…9/3 vs. Baltimore: Made his first pro start at left end…logged 35 defensive plays…was credited with three assisted tackles...9/17 at Cleveland: Saw extension action when Chris Sullivan experienced back spasms and was forced from the game…logged 32 defensive plays…finished with one solo tackle...9/24 vs. Tennessee: Earned his second pro start in place of Chris Sullivan…logged 25 defensive plays…finished with one solo tackle...10/1 at Jacksonville: Made his second consecutive start and was terrific…registered his first two career sacks…was credited with a career-high eight total tackles, including five solo stops...10/8 at N.Y. Jets: Started his third straight game…logged 29 plays…was credited with four total tackles, all solo...10/15 vs. Cincinnati: Logged 41 plays…finished with three total tackles.

COLLEGE:
Was a consensus Division II first-team All-America selection…was an All-North Conference first-team pick and voted conference's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman…holds Northern Colorado's career record with 44 sacks. 1998: Was team captain for the second straight year...totaled 63 stops (39 solo), 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 11.5 sacks. 1997: Was a Daktronics and Burger King/American Football Coaches Association first-team All-America choice...recorded 57 tackles (30 solo), including 15.5 sacks and 17 tackles for losses. 1996: Was voted All-NCC honorable mention as a sophomore...recorded 55 tackles (27 solo) with nine sacks and 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage...majored in political science.

PERSONAL:
Is married (Jaimie) with three daughters, Elliana (7), Elysia (2) and Emilia (1), and son, Elijah (5)...was a consensus All-State selection at Sierra (Colorado Springs, Colo.) High...also lettered in basketball...was a two time All-Conference choice in both sports...son of Ruth Smith...Full name: Aaron Douglas Smith.

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