Buffalo Bills @buffalobills78. Forever Bruce Smith. The Bills will retire the legend's number at our 2016 home opener!
The 52-year-old Smith retired following the 2003 season with 200 career sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times, won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award twice and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
The Bills selected Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech, and he undoubtedly lived up to the hype that surrounded him.
As pointed out by WGR 550's Sal Capaccio, the Norfolk, Virginia, native is possibly the greatest player to ever don a Bills uniform:
Smith spoke to reporters Wednesday, telling them he was "numb" and "in disbelief" when he received the news of the honor.
"I am excited," Smith added. "I am humbled. I couldn't sleep last night, thinking of all the memories."
Smith is among the biggest reasons why Buffalo managed to reach four consecutive Super Bowls, and he put up double-digit sack totals every year from 1986 through 1998, with the exception of the 1991 season, in which he played only five regular-season contests.
"I want people to remember the effort, the work, the dedication I put into this game," Smith told reporters.
When Smith's No. 78 is immortalized before the team's Sept. 15 Thursday night game against the Jets, he will join legendary quarterback Jim Kelly as the only two players to have their numbers retired by the franchise.
"You could say he's the greatest player of all time, in league history," Bills president Russ Brandon told reporters.
The occasion will be a fitting one for Smith, as his 31 career sacks against the Jets are more than he registered against any other team.
While arguments can be made for the likes of Reggie White and Deacon Jones, there is no question that Smith is near the top of the list when it comes to the conversation about the best defensive ends and pass-rushers in NFL history.
