JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith will become the sixth member of the Pride of the Jaguars when he is inducted on Dec. 11, 2016, the team announced Tuesday.
"I am just extremely grateful and thankful of being inducted into The Pride," said Smith in a conference call. "I'm definitely proud and emotional right now. It's been a long time coming with a lot of ups and downs but I've persevered."
Recommended Videos
Smith, one of just three players to play more than ten seasons for the Jaguars, from 1995-2005, still owns 11 team records 10 years after his retirement in 2006.
“There is no question that Jimmy Smith was one of the best players to ever wear a Jaguars uniform,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. “His contributions in the early years were critical to the success the Jaguars enjoyed during that time. The fact that most of his records have stood for 10 years without being surpassed underscores what a great player he was. I wish I had personally seen Jimmy play more frequently but I am very happy that we will appropriately honor him at EverBank Field in December.”
Smith thanked Shad Khan for calling him personally to give him the news and also thanked former coach Tom Coughlin, calling him a "second father."
A five-time Pro Bowl performer, Smith was a key to the Jaguars’ early success when the team earned four straight playoff appearances from 1996-99 and played in eight postseason games including two AFC Championship games. He was the Jaguars’ leading receiver seven times and was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl team five consecutive years from 1997-2001.
PHOTOS: Jimmy Smith through the years
“I am honored and humbled by this recognition, joining Tony and Fred and Mark and the Weavers in the Pride of the Jaguars,” Smith said, “and I look forward to being there at EverBank Field. We had such great fun and I have wonderful memories of my time there, and I want to experience it once again with my teammates and the great Jaguars fans. This is a great honor.”
Smith joined the Jaguars as a free agent in 1995, and over the next 11 seasons he produced marks for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns that still stand today. His 171 games played and 150 games started both rank second in team history, and his 11 seasons played is tied for second along with Josh Scobee and Fred Taylor behind Brad Meester’s 14 seasons. All of that was accomplished despite the fact that Smith did not become a starter until midway through the 1996 season.
Among the Jaguars' records Smith still holds are team marks for receptions in a career (862) and season (116); receiving yards in a career (12,287), season (1,636) and game (291); receiving TDs in a career (67) and game (3); consecutive games with a reception (80); highest average yards per reception (14.3); and 100- (46) and 200- (2) yard receiving games.
In addition, Smith still ranks second in team history in all-purpose yards (12,875) and yards from scrimmage (12,286), third for TDs scored (69), and fourth for points scored in a career (418).
The current members of the Pride of the Jaguars are OT Tony Boselli, who was inducted in 2006, former owners Wayne and Delores Weaver (2012), RB Fred Taylor (2012), and QB Mark Brunell (2013).
On the December day of Smith’s induction, the Jaguars are scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings in a 1 p.m. game at EverBank Field. That game will also be the Jaguars’ annual Homecoming game for Jaguars Legends.