A year ago, The Washington Team’s quarterback Alex Smith was not expected to ever return to the roster. By January 2021, Alex Smith was awarded The Comeback Player of the Year. The Ringer called Alex the “NFL’s Most Terrifying Miracle.”
On Nov. 18, 2018, Smith was tackled in the backfield by the Houston Texans. His right leg was caught in an awkward angle, and he suffered a compound fracture – a broken fibula and tibula. This life altering injury was just the beginning, though. After the initial surgery, Smith became infected by flesh eating bacteria. Instead of recovering, amputation of the leg became a real possibility. 17 surgeries and four hospital stays over 9 months were documented in the ESPN documentary “Project 11.” After missing the entire 2019 season, Smith was determined to return to the field in 2020.
Alex Smith Comes Back
Flash forward to October 2020, when Alex Smith took the field for the first time since 2018. Smith came off the bench and filled in for QB Kyle Allen during Washington’s 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn’t pretty – completed nine of 17 passes for 37 yards and took six sacks – but it was nothing less than inspirational. In his own words:
“Very surreal at first,” Smith said after the game of being back on the field. “To have it happen as fast as it did was probably almost a blessing. … It was kind of nice in that situation not having to think about it. You just go out and do it.”
Not everyone is as lucky as Alex Smith, but is it really “luck”? Fortunate definitely, but we tend to say lucky assuming some level of random chance or divine intervention. I think it had as much to do with Alex’s attitude and his willingness to screw the fear. Most people would give into the pain, the infection, and possibly more. He fought back all the way. Did he risk his life to do it – maybe? We can all rejoice in the happy ending, but the tendency is to look at something that could have gone completely wrong and say “well, it worked out in the end”. Actually I believe it worked out from the day the accident took place.
Alex was determined to work his way back from day one. That fighting spirit ultimately carried him the distance. Sometimes it’s not what the doctors tell you, it’s what you tell yourself that makes the difference.