Smith attended the University of Southern California, where he was one of the top two wide receivers by yardage for the USC Trojans football team. He was on the Maxwell Award 2006 watch list for the best player in college football and was named to the 2006 All Pac-10 team First Team and to the 2006 All Pac-10 Second Team by rivals.com. Smith was named honorable mention on the SI.com All-American team and First-team All-American by CBS Sportsline. Smith was voted team MVP in 2006 by teammates of his 4th ranked Trojans team. Smith caught three touchdown passes from Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart in USC's 55-19 national championship/Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
Smith was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft. He wore number 12. Smith only played in 5 games in the 2007 regular season, recording 8 catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns. However, after returning from a shoulder and hamstring injury, Smith turned in an outstanding postseason as he became a reliable third down receiver for quarterback Eli Manning. He made two big catches at the end of the first half in Dallas, which set up a game-tying touchdown and caught five passes in Super Bowl XLII, including four on third down. One of which was a 12-yard reception on a third and 11 with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Smith and the Giants prevailed over the New England Patriots 17-14. In the 2008 regular season, Smith became one of Manning's favorite targets, and not just on 3rd down as Smith led the Giants in receptions over Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress, who both started over Smith. Smith helped the Giants win the NFC East division. In the 2009 season, with the Giants' loss of Burress and Toomer, Smith and Domenik Hixon were named the starting wideouts. Smith opened the season explosively, and by the end of week 4, Smith led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. In Week 15, in a game against the Redskins, Smith broke the Giants franchise record for most receptions in a single season, also becoming the first Giants receiver in history to make 90 catches in one season. Smith was selected as an alternate in the 2010 Pro Bowl. He later replaced Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the 2010 Pro Bowl roster after Fitzgerald withdrew with an injury.
Philadelphia Eagles
On August 10, 2011, Smith agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list on August 13. He was activated from the list on August 27. He had eleven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown before he was placed on injured reserve on December 12 due to a bone bruise in his knee. He played in nine games for the Eagles, with one start against the Arizona Cardinals on November 13, in which he made five catches for 47 yards.
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams signed Smith on March 26, 2012.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On April 2, 2013, Smith signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith announced his retirement on May 29, 2013. Five years later, in his first year of eligibility, Smith was mistakenly announced as a modern-era nominee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Career receiving statistics
Personal life
Smith's brother, Malcolm Smith, currently a free agent linebacker, was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks. According to his biography page from the New York Giants, Steve was a Public Policy/Management and Planning major at USC. He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, raised in Woodland Hills, California and Canoga Park, California, but currently resides in Woodland Hills, CA. Smith was robbed at gunpoint on November 25, 2008 after arriving home, according to Clifton, New Jersey police. Smith had just returned to his house when he was approached from behind by a man who put a gun to Smith's head, Clifton police Captain Robert Rowan said. "He said to him, 'Give me everything you got,' and Mr. Smith turned over his jewelry, money and cell phone," Rowan said. Smith suffered no injury.
