Former two-time Bills TE Lee Smith retires from NFL
Former Buffalo Bills tight end Lee Smith has retired from the NFL.
Smith, an 11-year pro, most recently played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 after he was traded there by the Bills last offseason.
After being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2011, he was cut at the end of training camp.
From there, Smith started his first stint in Buffalo as he signed with the team. That lasted until 2014. Then he came back to the Bills in 2019 until he was shipped out for a seventh-round pick.
In between his two times in Buffalo, Smith played for the Oakland Raiders.
Smith had a bit of a mixed relationship with fans while with the Bills. His up-and-down production as a playmaker did that but Smith was known as perhaps one of the NFL’s best blocking tight ends in his career.
That intangible, plus his leadership, made Smith a beloved teammate during his time in the Bills locker room. That’s something even fans acknowledged.
As a pass catcher, Smith hauled in 73 catches for 523 yards and 11 touchdowns in 149 games played.
Here’s the video the Falcons released on Tuesday regarding Smith’s decision to hang ’em up:
After 11 seasons in the NFL, @LeeSmith is retiring. pic.twitter.com/0ID2KQxBXV
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 25, 2022
