Denver Broncos: Dennis Smith should follow Steve Atwater into the Hall of Fame, someday

The Denver Broncos will be well represented at Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

In addition to Peyton Manning and John Lynch being enshrined in Canton, one of the biggest fan favorites in Broncos history, Steve Atwater will also be going in.

Atwater was one of the very best safeties of his time and many feel that his inclusion in the Hall of Fame is long overdue. As good as Atwater was, he had a guy playing next to him that was pretty darn good as well. That would be Dennis Smith, who Atwater actually chose to present him into Canton.

The Broncos are starting to get some solid representation in Canton after it took so long for guys like Pat Bowlen, Terrell Davis and Atwater to get the call. But we could argue for many others to be in as well, including the ridiculous fact that Randy Gradishar is still on the outside looking in.

For Smith, being in Canton on Saturday night to present his old friend and teammate Atwater may be as close as he gets to ever being in the hallowed halls. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t good enough to be there.

The Broncos have a great tradition of strong safety play and what Smith brought to the field was a big part of that.

A first-round pick in 1981, Smith spent his entire 14-year playing career in Denver, where he left an indelible mark. During that time, he was selected to six Pro Bowls and was chosen as a First-Team All-Pro twice, becoming one of the best safeties in the league in the 1980s.

It was the physicality that Smith brought to the field that he is most remembered for and though Atwater had that hard-hitting trait as well, it can be argued that Smith was an even more feared hitter in the middle of the field.

Smith also finished his career with 30 interceptions and 15 sacks to go along with all of the tackles and plays he made at the safety position. Pro Football Reference credits Smith as being the tam’s all-time leader in solo tackles with 1,152.

But perhaps most importantly for Smith’s career was the example he provided to the younger Atwater, who was a first-round pick in 1989. Smith, the established veteran, helped bring  Atwater along to form one of the best safety tandems in NFL history.

Will Smith ever get into the Hall?

Though Atwater gets remembered for being the great player he was, and rightfully so, Smith should not be lost in the shuffle. And though he could have to wait a really long time to be recognized in Canton, it should happen someday.

It’s not unheard of for a player to wait decades after their playing careers have ended before getting the call.

Back in 2019, Atwater spoke highly of Smith in an interview with the team’s official website.

"“I learned from Dennis. I thought I was physical already, but being on the field with Dennis — I remember a play where we were playing the Indianapolis Colts here in Denver [in 1993] — and I was running over to make a tackle and Dennis comes flying by me and POW, he slams into the guy. I’m like, ‘Oh, sh–!’ After that, I was like, ‘I’ve got to go faster. I’m not getting there fast enough.’ …"

It will be great to see Atwater go into Canton Saturday night, but it will also be interesting to hear him talk of the man presenting him, Smith.

Though Smith will never get the recognition that Atwater does, the “Smiling Assassin” would not have been the same player without No. 49 there with him.