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Aaron Smith | Defensive Lineman

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Age / DOB:  (37) / 4/19/1976
Ht / Wt:  6'5' / 298
College: Northern Colorado
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Latest News

Recent News

Free agent DE Aaron Smith failed a physical before his release from the Steelers.
Smith insisted he was "completely healthy" in January two months after undergoing spinal fusion surgery, but that apparently wasn't the case. Limited to just 15 of a possible 48 games the past three years, the odds are strongly against Smith returning for a 14th NFL season in 2012. Sat, Mar 3, 2012 02:16:00 PM
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

CSN New England's Tom Curran suggests the Patriots might "reach out" to free agent DE Aaron Smith in order to gauge Smith's interest in playing again.

Smith is a medical mess and turns 36 next month, but he'd likely be available for a cheap contract and has long been a favorite of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Smith is seriously weighing retirement, however. Curran also speculates that the Pats "could be interested" if the Raiders release OLB Kamerion Wimbley.
Related: Patriots
Source: CSN New England
Fri, Mar 2, 2012 12:32:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

The player rep for DE Aaron Smith suggested the free agent will likely retire rather than return for a 14th season.

"We're celebrating [13] years of having the privilege of playing for the Steelers," said the agent, "and Aaron is celebrating having more time with his five kids and wife. There are no hard feelings." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac believes Smith would re-join Ken Whisenhunt, Ray Horton, and Russ Grimm in Arizona if he changes his mind.
Related: Cardinals
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fri, Mar 2, 2012 11:40:00 AM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers released DE Aaron Smith.

It was only a matter of time. Turning 36 in April, Smith had managed to suit up for just 15 of 48 games the past three years, failing to finish the season in four of the past five. The 2004 Pro Bowler was due $2.1 million, and the Steelers are still working to free up salary cap space in case RFA Mike Wallace draws a strong offer from another team. It's not clear if Smith, one of the premier 3-4 ends of the past decade, will be welcomed back a reduced rate.
Source: Jason LaCanfora on Twitter
Thu, Mar 1, 2012 04:07:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith reportedly looked "emaciated" at the team facility late in the season, down 20 pounds after neck surgery.

Smith told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he has some interest in playing football again, but the weight loss and his recent inability to stay healthy are obvious concerns for a player turning 36 in April. Smith has managed to appear in just 15 of a possible 48 games over the past three seasons.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 02:41:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith says he's "completely healthy" after spinal fusion surgery in November.

Smith insists he could play this weekend had he not been placed on injured reserve. The 35-year-old will decide after the playoffs whether to return for a 14th season. Explaining that joining another team would "taint" his stellar career, Smith plans only to play in Pittsburgh if he returns. With Ziggy Hood and Cam Heyward showing plenty of promise, Smith will be only a part-timer in 2012.
Source: Scott Brown on Twitter
Thu, Jan 5, 2012 01:09:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

The injury that ended Steelers DE Aaron Smith's season was to Smith's neck, not his foot.

Initial speculated had Smith dealing with more foot problems because he'd missed the last three games with them. The bad injury is to Smith's neck, however. He also missed 23 games during the 2009 and 2010 seasons with shoulder and triceps injuries. We would be surprised to see Smith play another NFL snap.
Source: Ed Bouchette on Twitter
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 01:35:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers placed DE Aaron Smith (foot) on injured reserve, ending his season.

This could be it for the 35-year-old Smith, who was limited to nine games between the 2009 and 2010 seasons thanks to shoulder and triceps injuries. The Steelers have a readymade replacement at left end in former first-round pick Ziggy Hood, who excelled in Smith's absence during the Steelers' Super Bowl run last winter. Hood has seven tackles and one sack in six games this season. If this is indeed the end for Smith, he'll finish with 459 tackles and 44 sacks in 160 career games, all of which came in a Steelers uniform.
Related: Ziggy Hood
Source: Ed Bouchette on Twitter
Sat, Oct 22, 2011 02:45:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith (foot) has already been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

Smith's mid-foot sprain is going to need plenty of time to heal up. Ziggy Hood had four tackles and a half-sack in place of Smith last week.
Related: Ziggy Hood
Source: Scott Brown on Twitter
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 12:26:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain.

These kinds of foot sprains are nothing to mess around with, especially for a 35-year-old like Smith. We'd expect Ziggy Hood to get the nod against the Titans Sunday. Smith has been one of the primary weak spots in Pittsburgh's front seven this season, so Hood could easily prove a significant upgrade.
Related: Ziggy Hood
Source: Gerry Dulac on Twitter
Tue, Oct 4, 2011 10:41:00 AM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith (foot) was sporting a protective boot after Sunday's loss to the Texans.

Smith was able to play through the injury at the end of Sunday's game, but was likely being propped up by adrenaline. With Ziggy Hold being a more than capable replacement, there's a good chance Smith sits out in Week 5. The 35-year-old veteran has missed 21 games with injury the past three seasons.
Related: Ziggy Hood
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 11:42:00 AM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith left Sunday's Week 4 game against the Texans with a foot injury midway through the fourth quarter.

His return is being called doubtful. Smith was carted off, which may mean this is a multi-week injury. Ziggy Hood should see snaps in his absence.
Related: Ziggy Hood
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 03:25:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

The Steelers plan to continue a rotation at defensive end and middle linebacker this season.

Warren Sapp can knock the Steelers defense for looking old, but they actually started giving MLB James Farrior (36) and DE Aaron Smith (35) more breathers in Week 1. Larry Foote and Ziggy Hood are transitioning in to larger roles, likely before taking over in 2012. Reports of the demise of the Steelers have been greatly exaggerated.
Related: Ziggy Hood, Larry Foote
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 01:05:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith has been taking a majority of the first-team reps ahead of Ziggy Hood at left end so far during training camp.

As expected. The 12-year veteran reportedly "appears to be close to full strength" after having his third season in four years cut short by injury in 2010. Hood played well in Smith's absence last season, but isn't yet a threat to Smith's job as long as he's healthy.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 12:23:00 PM
Aaron Smith - DL - Steelers

Steelers DE Aaron Smith is not entertaining thoughts of retirement as he enters the final year of his contract.

The 35-year-old has suffered season-ending triceps and rotator cuff injuries the past two years, but he wants to keep playing as long as his body lets him. "I love to compete," said Smith. "I think I'll be the type of guy you have to run out of here."
Related: Ziggy Hood
Source: Scott Brown on Twitter
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 03:04:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Ben Roethlisberger
2Bruce Gradkowski
3Landry Jones
4John Parker Wilson
RB1Le'Veon Bell
2Isaac Redman
3La'Rod Stephens-Howling
4Jonathan Dwyer
5Baron Batch
GLB1Le'Veon Bell
2Isaac Redman
3RB1Le'Veon Bell
2La'Rod Stephens-Howling
FB1Will Johnson
WR11Antonio Brown
2Markus Wheaton
3Justin Brown
4David Gilreath
5Reggie Dunn
WR21Emmanuel Sanders
2Jerricho Cotchery
3Plaxico Burress
4Derek Moye
5Kashif Moore
WR31Jerricho Cotchery
TE1Heath Miller
2Matt Spaeth
3David Paulson
4David Johnson
5Jamie McCoy
K1Shaun Suisham
2Danny Hrapmann