A former blood clot diagnosis nearly ended his career at Tennessee, but Trey Smith fought back to become a Pro Bowl guard and two-time Super Bowl champion in Kansas City.
Trey Smith is a guard for the Kansas City Chiefs whose sixth-round draft slot belied his talent, a fall caused entirely by medical concerns rather than ability. Since arriving in Kansas City, Smith has become one of the most reliable and highest-paid interior linemen in the league.
Path to the league
Smith was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs during his sophomore season at Tennessee, forcing him to miss the final five games of that year. He bounced back to earn First Team All-SEC honors as a junior in 2019, but the medical history caused him to slide to the sixth round (226th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft despite being viewed by many as a third-round talent.
Career highlights
Smith has started every regular-season game but one across his career with the Chiefs, becoming a foundational piece of Kansas City's offensive line. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2024 season and is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He later signed a four-year, $94 million extension with $70 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
2025 season recap
Smith continued as the Chiefs' starting right guard in 2025, maintaining the durability and consistency that has defined his career since entering the league, and remained one of the anchors of Kansas City's offensive front.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Trey Smith (American football)
- Pro Football Reference: Trey Smith
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Tennessee
- Hometown
- Jackson, TN, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
