Charles Aaron Smith, universally known as Bubba, began his professional trajectory as the first overall pick in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 265 pounds, the defensive end exerted a physical dominance that reshaped team strategies, eventually transitioning from the gridiron to a recognizable career in film and television comedy.
Formative Years in Texas
Born in Orange, Texas, on February 28, 1945, Smith was raised in Beaumont. He developed his athletic foundations at Charlton-Pollard High School, benefiting from the coaching of his father, Willie Ray Smith Sr. Despite his high school success, racial segregation in the southern United States prevented him from securing an athletic scholarship at the University of Texas, steering his ambitions toward Michigan State University.
Collegiate Dominance
At Michigan State, Smith earned All-American honors in 1965 and 1966. He gained national prominence for his performance in the November 19, 1966, match against Notre Dame, a contest famously billed as the Game of the Century that ended in a 10–10 tie. His impact on the program was so profound that Michigan State eventually retired his number 95 jersey in 2006, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
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Selected by the Baltimore Colts, Smith played nine seasons in the NFL between 1967 and 1976. He served as the starting left defensive end for the Colts for five seasons, appearing in Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V. His tenure also included stints with the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers. A significant 1972 injury caused by a yardage marker collision at Tampa Stadium led to a protracted legal dispute regarding stadium safety standards.
Transition to Entertainment
Following his retirement from professional sports, Smith built a secondary career in acting. He achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of Moses Hightower in the Police Academy franchise. His screen work included roles in various television series such as Blue Thunder, Taxi, and Married... with Children. He also appeared in sustained advertising campaigns for Miller Lite alongside Dick Butkus and served as a regional commercial spokesman for the Baltimore law firm Cohen, Snyder, Eisenberg & Katzenberg.
Legacy and Health
Smith died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles. Following his death, he was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative condition frequently linked to repetitive head trauma in professional football. He remains one of at least 345 former NFL players to receive this diagnosis posthumously.
Fast facts
- Born: 1945, Beaumont, Texas
- Died: 2011, Los Angeles
- Education: Michigan State University
- NFL Draft: First overall pick, 1967
- Professional Teams: Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers
- Best Known Role: Moses Hightower in Police Academy
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted 1988
- Physical Stature: 6 ft 7 in, 265 lbs
Questions readers ask
Did Bubba Smith win a Super Bowl?
Yes, he won Super Bowl V as a member of the Baltimore Colts, though he noted in interviews he preferred not to wear the ring due to the team's loss in Super Bowl III.
What was the cause of Bubba Smith's death?
He died in 2011 in Los Angeles, and a posthumous diagnosis revealed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
