Smith enters his third season with the Colts and his second as the team's linebackers coach/run game coordinator. He added the run game coordinator responsibilities to his title following the 2022 season. Smith has 45 years of coaching experience, including 36 seasons in the NFL.
Indianapolis ranked fifth in the NFL in tackles for loss (94.0) and sacks (51.0), while finishing tied for fifth in forced fumbles (17.0) in 2023. The Colts also ranked fourth in opponent negative play yards (-512). The team recorded 14 consecutive games with a takeaway to open the season, which was the longest streak in the NFL in 2023.
Smith guided linebackers Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed to career seasons, with Franklin finishing the year ranking second in tackles and solo tackles in the NFL. He surpassed his own franchise single-season record of tackles (166) from 2022, posting 179 during the 2023 campaign. Speed posted single-season career highs in tackles (100), solo tackles (76), tackles for loss (12.0) and forced fumbles (three). His 12.0 tackles for loss were also a team high.
In 2022, Indianapolis finished the season in the top 10 in the league in sacks (44 – tied-10th), tackles for loss (91 – fifth), forced fumbles (13 – tied-eighth), fumble recoveries (11 – tied-fourth), opponent negative plays (31 – fifth), third down percentage (37.95 – 10th) and opponent three-and-out percentage (22.3 – eighth). The unit's 44 sacks were the most in franchise history since 2005 (46).
Smith helped Franklin and Bobby Okereke register career years. Franklin finished with 166 tackles (102 solo), 12.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, six passes defensed and three forced fumbles. Okereke tallied 149 tackles (97 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Franklin set the single-season franchise tackle record and Okereke compiled a single-season career high in tackles. The duo ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in total tackles (Franklin – fourth; Okereke – 10th) and solo tackles (Franklin – fifth; Okereke – ninth). Franklin had 10 games with 10+ tackles, which tied for the most in the league.
Prior to Indianapolis, Smith served as the linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders for one season (2021). He led linebacker Denzel Perryman to his first career Pro Bowl selection after he compiled a single-season career-high 154 total tackles (102 solo). Perryman tied for the third-most solo tackles and ranked sixth in total tackles in the NFL.
From 2017-20, Smith was the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. He worked with then-rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. in 2020, who set the franchise record for the most tackles by a rookie (107). He also added 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and three passes defensed. Smith helped the Los Angeles defense rank in the top 10 in total defense for three consecutive seasons (2018-20). The Chargers ranked ninth in total defense (333.7 yards per game), rushing defense (105.8 yards per game) and passing defense (227.9 yards per game) in 2018, while finishing eighth in scoring defense (20.6 points per game allowed).
Prior to Los Angeles, Smith served as the defensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons (2015-16) and helped Atlanta win the NFC title in 2016, while guiding Vic Beasley to a NFL-high 15.5 sacks. Beasley also added 39 tackles (32 solo), 11.0 tackles for loss, two passes defensed, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Inheriting a defense that finished last in the league in total defense the prior season, Smith helped the Falcons make a vast improvement and jumped up to 16th in total defense in 2015.
From 2011-14, he was the linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos and was part of a team that made the postseason in every year he was there. During his tenure, the Broncos ranked third in rushing defense (99.7 yards per game), fourth in third down defense (34.7 percent) and seventh in total defense (346.0 yards per game) in the NFL.
Smith spent two seasons (2009-2010) with the Carolina Panthers as the linebackers coach. In that time frame, the defense tied for third in takeaways (66) and ranked ninth in total defense (338.9 yards per game) in the NFL. He mentored linebacker Jon Beason to his second career Pro Bowl in 2009 after he started all 16 games and tallied 141 tackles (111 solo), a single-season career-high 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Prior to Denver, Smith served as the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans for three seasons (2006-08). He coached outside linebacker DeMeco Ryans and defensive end Mario Williams, who were both selected to the Pro Bowl twice and earned Associated Press Second Team All-Pro accolades.
In 2005, Smith was the defensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins. Miami finished second in the NFL in sacks (49.0) and tied for second in red zone takeaways (six). He worked with Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas, who paced the team with 162 tackles (107 solo), 2.0 sacks, three passes defensed, one interception, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Smith spent two seasons (2003-04) as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach with the Detroit Lions. Prior to Detroit, he served as the linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers for six seasons (1997-2002). During his tenure with the 49ers, Smith guided four linebackers to Pro Bowl honors, including Julian Peterson (2002), Winfred Tubbs (1998), Lee Woodall (1997) and Ken Norton Jr. (1997).
He coached with the Broncos for four seasons, first working with the linebackers (1993-94) before shifting to special teams (1995-96) for two seasons.
Smith entered the league ranks with the Houston Oilers and spent five seasons (1988-1992) working with the special teams, tight ends and offensive line. He helped Houston reach the playoffs in each season of his tenure.
Prior to coaching in the NFL, Smith coached nine years at the collegiate level with Arizona (1987), California (1984-86), Cal State-Fullerton (1981-83) and his alma mater, Rio Hondo Junior College (1979-80).
Smith played offensive line at Fresno State for one season (1977) after he competed at Rio Hondo for two years (1975-76). He helped Fresno State win the Pacific Coast Athletic Association title in 1977.
1979-1980 | Rio Hondo Junior College | Offensive Line
1981-1983 | Cal State Fullerton | Defensive Line
1984-1986 | California | Linebackers/Special Teams
1987 | Arizona | Linebackers/Special Teams
1988-1989 | Houston Oilers | Special Teams/Tight Ends/Offensive Line
1990-1992 | Houston Oilers | Special Teams/Tight Ends/Linebackers/Offensive Line
1993-1994 | Denver Broncos | Special Teams/Assistant Linebackers
1995-1996 | Denver Broncos | Special Teams
1997-2002 | San Francisco 49ers | Linebackers
2003-2004 | Detroit Lions | Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
2005 | Miami Dolphins | Defensive Coordinator
2006-2008 | Houston Texans | Defensive Coordinator
2009-2010 | Carolina Panthers | Linebackers
2011-2014 | Denver Broncos | Linebackers
2015-2016 | Atlanta Falcons | Defensive Coordinator
2017-2020 | Los Angeles Chargers | Linebackers
2021 | Las Vegas Raiders | Linebackers
2022-2024 | Indianapolis Colts | Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator
