Chris Smith

Christopher Smith (born December 15, 1999) He grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Cranbrook Kingswood High School. In high school, he started all four years for the football team and was a four-time All-Catholic Football selection, two-time all-state selection and two-time team defensive player of the year. He served as team captain as a senior in football and was chosen the team MVP; he also played three years for the basketball team and was team captain in that sport as a senior as well. He then had 21 tackles, two tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games in the 2019 season; the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smith graduated from Harvard in 2021 with a degree in human evolutionary biology, but opted to remain in college for a final year, entering the NCAA transfer portal after the season. With the Fighting Irish, Smith appeared in 13 games, five as a starter, and recorded 17 tackles with 0.5 TFLs and a forced fumble.

Statistics Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Total Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds TD FF FR TD 2018 Harvard 9 0 11 2 9 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 Harvard 10 4 21 10 11 1.5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2020 Harvard 0 0 No team – COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Harvard 10 10 40 13 27 3.5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2022 Notre Dame 13 5 17 10 7 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0Career 42 19 89 35 54 5.5 0 0 0 0 3 1 0

Professional career

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Smith signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 29, and then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was released from the practice squad on September 20, re-signed on December 13, released on December 29, and re-signed on January 14, 2024. Following the 2023 season, in which he played no games,

Smith was released at the roster cuts for the 2024 season, on August 27, 2024, and was then re-signed to the practice squad a day later. On September 7, he was signed to the active roster, one day prior to the team's Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He made his NFL debut in the game, recording one tackle while appearing on eight defensive snaps. On September 11, he was re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 2. He was waived on December 23, and re-signed to the practice squad, making his Monday Night Football debut against the San Francisco 49ers on December 30. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on January 20, 2025.

On October 11, 2025, Smith was waived by the Lions and re-signed to the practice squad three days later. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 5, 2026.

On August 30, 2026, Smith was waived by the Lions as part of final roster cuts. But was added back to the practice squad on September 1st.

NFL career statistics Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Total Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR TD 2024 DET 5 0 2 0 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 Career 5 0 2 0 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0