# Derek Smith (linebacker)

Derek Mecham Smith (born January 18, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Smith also played for the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins.

## College career

At Arizona State University, Smith was good friends with Pat Tillman and was a teammate to Jake Plummer.

## Professional career
### Washington Redskins

Smith played for the Redskins for four years from 1997 to 2000.

### San Francisco 49ers

Smith then signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2001. He played with the team through 2007 before being waived on February 19, 2008.

### San Diego Chargers

On February 24, 2008, the Chargers signed Smith to a two-year contract. He was released ten weeks into the regular season on November 12 after running back Michael Bennett was claimed off waivers.

### Miami Dolphins

Smith was signed by the Miami Dolphins on December 22, 2008.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 1997 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 87 | 59 | 28 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | WAS | 16 | 15 | 103 | 78 | 25 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 97 | 68 | 29 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | WAS | 16 | 14 | 89 | 72 | 17 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | SFO | 14 | 14 | 108 | 78 | 30 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | SFO | 16 | 16 | 113 | 84 | 29 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | SFO | 16 | 16 | 115 | 88 | 27 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | SFO | 14 | 14 | 110 | 80 | 30 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 46 | 1 |
| 2005 | SFO | 16 | 16 | 116 | 90 | 26 | 0.0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | SFO | 13 | 12 | 69 | 51 | 18 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | SFO | 15 | 14 | 78 | 50 | 28 | 0.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 2008 | SDG | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | MIA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 174 | 167 | 1,098 | 805 | 293 | 13.5 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 60 | 2 |

### Playoffs

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 1999 | WAS | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | SFO | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | SFO | 2 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | MIA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 6 | 5 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |