Akili Smith Kabisa Akili Maradufu Smith ( born August 21 , 1975 ) is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback . He was selected in the first round ( 3rd overall ) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals , the third quarterback in the first three choices , behind Tim Couch ( Cleveland Browns ) , and Donovan McNabb ( Philadelphia Eagles ) . Smith played college football at the University of Oregon . In his career , Smith has also played for the Green Bay Packers , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Frankfurt Galaxy , and Calgary Stampeders . College career . Smith attended Abraham Lincoln High School in San Diego , the alma mater of Marcus Allen and Terrell Davis , before choosing to go Grossmont College , a junior college in the San Diego area for two years , prior to transferring to the University of Oregon . Smith came to the foreground of draft discussions because of his performance in his senior season at Oregon , throwing 32 touchdown passes in only 11 starts in college . Professional career . 1999 Draft . In the 1999 NFL Draft , a year when five quarterbacks would be drafted in the first round , Smith was the third quarterback and third player selected overall , by the Cincinnati Bengals . National Football League ( 1999 - 2005 ) . Cincinnati Bengals . Prior to the draft , there was an effort by New Orleans Saints ' head coach Mike Ditka and management to get the Cincinnati Bengals ' high draft position so the Saints could get Ricky Williams . The final offer , which was refused by Bengals management , was for nine draft picks , several extra in that year as well as many the next year . Instead of taking the trade , the Bengals stayed with their initial decision to draft Smith , who , while athletic , ( he had also played two years of minor - league baseball and ran a 4 . 66 40 - yard dash ) was still largely unproven , having only succeeded at the college level for one season . Smith missed large periods of 1999 training camp due to contract disputes ; many pundits later speculated that his absence from this part of training camp hurt him in the seasons to come . Despite showing athleticism in his early games , he failed to grasp the Bengals playbook fully , and never established himself with the team . During the four years he was with the Bengals , he would only start in 17 games and throw just five TD passes next to 13 interceptions , eventually leading to his release in 2002 , after riding the bench mostly during the previous two years . Green Bay Packers / Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Frankfurt Galaxy . In 2003 , Smith tried out for the Green Bay Packers , as Brett Favre ' s backup . He was , however , unsuccessful there and was later released . In 2005 , he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a stint in NFL Europe where he started four games for the Frankfurt Galaxy . Canadian Football League ( 2007 ) . Calgary Stampeders ( 2007 ) . In 2007 , Smith signed a two - year contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League , where he was expected to compete for the starting quarterback position with another former NFL player , Henry Burris . After an unimpressive debut in an exhibition game against the Edmonton Eskimos , Smith played well in the final exhibition against the Saskatchewan Roughriders . Though listed going into the game as the third - string quarterback , he completed three touchdown passes in only one half of play , including one to former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marc Boerigter . In his first regular season action , replacing Burris in the second quarter on July 12 , Smith struggled against the Toronto Argonauts . He finished 6 - of - 10 for 63 yards , no touchdowns and three interceptions . He also lost one fumble . He was then pulled at the end of the half . After an unimpressive showing against the Roughriders on October 8 , 2007 , going 4 - of - 12 , for 37 yards , along with the impending return of a healthy Burris , the Stampeders released Smith on October 10 , 2007 . Post football career . After retiring from football , Smith was the quarterbacks coach for Grossmont College . Smith is a deacon at a Missionary Baptist church and plays football for " God ' s House " , a flag football team . In March 2010 Smith joined the University of California ' s football staff as a graduate assistant to work with the offense . Cal head coach Jeff Tedford previously coached Smith at Oregon when he was offensive coordinator . In 2012 , Smith took over as quarterbacks coach for St . Augustine High School in San Diego . Smith is also planning on finishing the college degree that he started at the University of Oregon .