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NOSMITH82

Irv Smith

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Houston Texans · TE

Irv Smith recorded 139 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 14 rostered seasons with Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints.

▶Best highlights

19.9

rec yds/gm

0.0

rush yds/gm

4

playoff games

139

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A provisional five-game introduction to Irv Smith's most significant indexed performances.

Regular Season
2020
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
DEC 25, 2020

Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints

Regular Season · Dec 25, 2020

6 rec · 53 rec yds · 2 rec TD

Regular Season
1995
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
ATLANTAFALCONS
DEC 10, 1995

New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

Regular Season · Dec 10, 1995

7 rec · 45 rec yds · 2 rec TD

Regular Season
2020
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
TAMPA BAYBUCCANEERS
DEC 13, 2020

Minnesota Vikings vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Regular Season · Dec 13, 2020

4 rec · 63 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Regular Season
1994
ATLANTAFALCONS
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
NOV 13, 1994

Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints

Regular Season · Nov 13, 1994

7 rec · 46 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Regular Season
1995
INDIANAPOLISCOLTS
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
NOV 12, 1995

Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints

Regular Season · Nov 12, 1995

9 rec · 83 rec yds · 0 rec TD

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Irv Smith's indexed NFL box scores.

Career highs: 83 receiving yards · 9 receptions · 12 targets

Regular Season
1995
INDIANAPOLISCOLTS
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
NOV 12, 1995

Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints

Regular Season · Nov 12, 1995

9 rec · 83 rec yds · 0 rec TD

Career high: 2 receiving touchdowns

Regular Season
2020
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NEW ORLEANSSAINTS
DEC 25, 2020

Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints

Regular Season · Dec 25, 2020

6 rec · 53 rec yds · 2 rec TD

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Irv Smith's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1987–1999

01
NOSMITH—Irv Smith
NOJACKSON—Rickey Jackson
NOMILLS51Sam Mills

Linebacker defense delivers the first winners

New Orleans Saints · The Dome Patrol

Jim Mora's defense sent four linebackers to the Pro Bowl and ended the franchise's wait for winning seasons and playoff football.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1991–1998

02
SFSMITH—Irv Smith
SFYOUNG8Steve Young
SFRICE80Jerry Rice

A quarterback transition preserves greatness

San Francisco 49ers · Steve Young takes the baton

Young escaped Montana's shadow with an MVP peak and six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX, extending the dynasty into another generation.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1999–2017

03
CLESMITH—Irv Smith
CLETHOMAS73Joe Thomas
CLECRIBBS16Josh Cribbs

An expansion-style rebirth becomes a long rebuild

Cleveland Browns · The Browns return

The restored franchise returned in 1999 but cycled through leadership and quarterbacks, with Thomas providing Hall of Fame stability amid the turnover.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2014–2021

04
MINSMITH—Irv Smith
MINSMITH22Harrison Smith
MINHUNTER99Danielle Hunter

A complete roster produces the Minneapolis Miracle

Minnesota Vikings · Zimmer's defense

Mike Zimmer built an elite defense, and Stefon Diggs's last-second touchdown sent the 2017 Vikings to the NFC Championship Game.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2022–present

05
MINSMITH—Irv Smith
MINJEFFERSON18Justin Jefferson
MINHOCKENSON87T.J. Hockenson

An elite receiver leads a changing offense

Minnesota Vikings · The Jefferson transition

Jefferson's record pace and a season of improbable comebacks carried Minnesota into its post-Peterson, post-Zimmer transition.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2020–present

06
CINSMITH—Irv Smith
CINBURROW9Joe Burrow
CINCHASE—Ja'Marr Chase

A fearless quarterback returns Cincinnati to the Super Bowl

Cincinnati Bengals · Burrow changes the ceiling

Burrow and Chase reunited from LSU, produced an immediate AFC championship and made Cincinnati a threat whenever its quarterback is healthy.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2023–present

07
HOUSMITH—Irv Smith
HOUSTROUD7C.J. Stroud
HOUANDERSON51Will Anderson Jr.

A rookie quarterback accelerates everything

Houston Texans · Stroud and Ryans arrive together

Ryans restored defensive purpose while Stroud's record-setting rookie season delivered a division title and the franchise's first new foundation in years.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

14 NFL seasons139 career games292 career receptions2,761 career receiving yards25 career receiving touchdowns8 career solo tacklesCollege: AlabamaDrafted by: MINDraft pick: 50Jersey: 834 playoff appearancesFirst appearance: Sep 5, 1993Most recent: Jan 18, 2025

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history