Lamar Smith (American football)


Lamar Hunter Smith is a retired professional American football running back. He played in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers from 1994 to 2003. On December 30, 2000, Smith carried the ball a then NFL record 40 times for the Dolphins in a wildcard playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished with 209 yards rushing, including a 17-yard touchdown run in overtime to give the Dolphins a 23–17 victory, Miami's most recent playoff victory as of the 2018 season.

Education

Smith attended South Side High School in Fort Wayne. After high school, he attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and then the University of Houston on scholarship for his final two years. He was selected in the third round with the 73rd overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1994 NFL Draft.

Drunk driving

Smith was charged with vehicular assault in 1994. He was drinking and driving prior to a car wreck that left teammate Mike Frier paralyzed from the neck down. The prosecutor noted that he had drunk at least five beers and six-and-a-half ounces of Scotch shortly before his car struck a utility pole. He pleaded guilty to vehicular assault in 1996, and served 60 days in a work-release program. He was also ordered to give 35 to 50 percent of his NFL earnings to Frier over a seven-year period.
He was arrested on a second DUI charge in 2002 while playing for the Panthers.

NFL Europe

In 2007, he participated in a coaching internship program with NFL Europe.