NFL Network's 'A Football Life' Reveals Steve Smith's Resilience in the Face of Adversity

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'Steve Smith: A Football Life' Airs Friday, November 18 at 9:00 PM ET​

"My kids are who I am. For some people, they see football as who I am, but family is who I am." – Steve Smith

The sixth season of NFL Network's Emmy-nominated series A Football Life Presented by Gillette continues Friday, November 18 at 9:00 PM ET with Steve Smith: A Football Life, covering resilience in the face of adversity throughout his career. The one-hour show produced by NFL Films features guests including former football players Jordan Gross, Jake Delhomme, Ricky Proehl, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome, wife Angie Smith and more. This episode also features exclusive footage of Smith's injury rehabilitation, as well as exclusive scenes from the day of and day after his surgery.

Each episode of A Football Life – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile) and via Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL Mobile and Watch NFL Network apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One and Xbox 360(NFL on Xbox app) and other connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV and Playstation 4). To watch full episodes of A Football Life and for additional content, visit NFL.com/AFootballLife.

Steve Smith is used to overcoming obstacles on his way to success. From a third-round pick who saw the field mostly on special teams in his rookie season to multiple-time All Pro, Smith has always played with an aggressive, determined style representative of his intense passion for the game of football. Smith has never left adversity unchallenged, including his surprise comeback for the 2016 season after experiencing a season-ending injury in 2015.

Narrated by Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles, Steve Smith: A Football Life delves into Smith's determined character and how he has used it to overcome the various challenges in his life. However, this episode also examines Smith's softer side off of the field, including his charity projects and love for his family.

To view a trailer for Steve Smith: A Football Life, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JN0KlUQxdA.

Among the topics discussed in Steve Smith: A Football Life are:

Smith's season-ending Achilles injury in 2015 and subsequent rehab

Smith's rough upbringing in inner-city Los Angeles

Smith's rise as a pro, starting with his success on special teams

Smith's rehab from his first season-ending injury in 2004

Smith's feisty personality and combative nature on the field

The tension between the veteran wide receiver and then rookie quarterback Cam Newton

Smith signing with the Baltimore Ravens after being released by the Carolina Panthers

Smith's return in 2016 after he initially intended to retire

Steve Smith: A Football Life includes interviews and appearances from the following people and more:

Steve Smith

Angie Smith – Wife

Ricky Proehl – Former teammate

John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens head coach

Jordan Gross – Former teammate

Jake Delhomme – Former teammate

Marshall Yanda – Ravens teammate

Florence Young – Mother

Fred Graves – Former Utah assistant coach

Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers quarterback

Ozzie Newsome – Baltimore Ravens general manager

Peyton Smith – Son

Provided below are some select quotes from Steve Smith: A Football Life:

- "If I'm a guy trying to decide, am I going to play again, or if I'm just going to go find out what this real world is about, I've never really had to make that before." – Steve Smith

- "I didn't believe he would actually retire on an injury. Go back through Steve's whole career, he always had something to prove, and this was another opportunity for him to prove something". – Jordan Gross

- "Honestly, I want your mom to be pissed off when she sees on SportsCenter and I'm doing her son like dirt. That's what I want." – Steve Smith

- "In 2005, coming back from that injury, I accomplished that you cannot measure a man's ability to play this game based on his stature." – Steve Smith

- "My kids are who I am. For some people, they see football as who I am, but family is who I am." –Steve Smith

- "Every team that called, I looked at their schedule. I didn't know what week, but I knew the Panthers were on [the Ravens'] schedule." – Steve Smith on his free agent decision to join the Baltimore Ravens

- "I really came back not to set any records, but more because this organization gave me an opportunity. And when I got hurt, I feel like I let those guys down in the locker room. So for me to come back and play is to show [the Ravens] that I am dependable, that they can depend on. And to show you jackasses that, at 37 years old, I can still play." – Steve Smith on his 2016 return to the Ravens

This year, the 13-episode season of the highly-acclaimed series A Football Life airs Friday at 9:00 PM ET. Below is a broadcast schedule for the upcoming episodes of A Football Life:

November 25 – Chuck Noll

– Chuck Noll December 2 – Troy Aikman

– Troy Aikman December 9 – Charles Woodson

– Charles Woodson December 16 – Kevin Greene

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