Riley Smith (American football)

Riley Henry Smith (July 14, 1911 – August 9, 1999) was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) during the late 1930s. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American. After his NFL career ended, he became a coach.

Smith was born in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1911. He originally attended and played high school football for Greenwood High School, but then moved to Columbus, Mississippi and played at Columbus High School.

Smith attended the University of Alabama, where he played quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He was passer and runner, but could also block, punt, kick extra points and boot field goals. In 1935, he was part of the team that won the Rose Bowl, was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, and also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference. Smith played in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.

Smith was the second player chosen (behind Jay Berwanger) in the first-ever 1936 NFL Draft. In 1936 and 1937 he missed only three minutes in 26 Redskin games, but an injury ended his playing career early.

After retirement, Smith became a football coach at Washington and Lee University, where he was an assistant coach in 1939 and head coach 1940-42. He then served in the Navy as Lieutenant commander from 1942 to 1945 and became a real estate developer in Mobile, Alabama.