Jeff Smoker


Jeff Smoker is a former American football quarterback who played for the National Football League's St. Louis Rams from 2004 to 2005. He was also the starting quarterback for the Nashville Kats and Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.

College career

Michigan State

Jeff Smoker attended Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, he set many of the Spartans' passing records and when he finished his collegiate career he was the fifth leading passer-by-yards in Big Ten history.
Smoker appeared in two bowl games during his career, winning the Silicon Valley Football Classic 44-35 vs. Fresno State as a Sophomore, and losing against Nebraska 17-3 as a Senior in the Alamo Bowl.
Smoker also played in the "Clockgate" game against the Michigan Wolverines on November 3, 2001. In the game Smoker threw the winning touchdown with 1 second remaining.

Struggles with substance abuse

Smoker was suspended for the last five games of the 2002 season by coach Bobby Williams due to a violation of team rules. It was later revealed that Smoker was dealing with substance abuse issues. His story and comeback was profiled in a front-page story in Sports Illustrated. Williams was fired toward the end of the 2002 season. Incoming coach John L. Smith reinstated Smoker in August 2003.

Michigan State passing records

Held the Michigan State passing records until it was surpassed by Connor Cook in 2015.
Career records
Season records
Single game records

Pre-draft

NFL

First stint with the St. Louis Rams (2004–2005)

Smoker was drafted in the 6th round by the St. Louis Rams, and he made the Rams' roster in his rookie year as the team's third quarterback. In his second year he was beaten out of that position by former Harvard University quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and was cut from the Rams at the end of the 2005 training camp.

Philadelphia Eagles (2005)

Smoker spent a brief time on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad in 2005.

Second stint with the St. Louis Rams (2005–2006)

He spent the 2005 season on the club's practice squad and roster due to injuries to the Ram's starter Marc Bulger and his back-up, Jamie Martin.
Due to the Rams' signing of former Miami Dolphins quarterback Gus Frerotte in the 2006 offseason, Smoker was cut from the Rams roster at the beginning of the 2006 training camp.

Kansas City Chiefs (2006)

On August 10, 2006, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Smoker was released on August 28.

AFL career

Nashville Kats

Smoker was signed by the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League on November 21, 2006.
He got his first start with the Kats on March 18, 2007 versus the Utah Blaze in Nashville. As of March 27, 2007, Smoker had replaced original starting quarterback Clint Stoerner as the first stringer. He led the Kats to a 7-9 record where they just barely missed the playoffs. He was released from the team at the end of the 2007 season.

Arizona Rattlers

Smoker was signed by the Arizona Rattlers, where he was their starting quarterback until the league folded in 2009.