Steve Smith ( wide receiver , born 1985 ) Steven Smith ( born May 6 , 1985 ) is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Southern California ( USC ) , and earned All - American honors . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft , and has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles , the St . Louis Rams , and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Early years . Smith was born in Anchorage , Alaska . He played at Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley , where he set the state records for most receptions ( 271 ) and yardage ( 4486 ) in a varsity career , and led the Toreadors to two consecutive Los Angeles City Section Championship games ( although they lost both games ) . His career yardage record was surpassed by Canyon High School Wide Receiver , Drew Wolitarsky on October 5th , 2012 . He played in the 2003 U . S . Army All - American Bowl with several of his USC Trojan teammates including Reggie Bush , LenDale White , and Sam Baker . He also played high school basketball and was a teammate with current Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar . College career . Smith attended the University of Southern California , where he was one of the top two wide receivers by yardage for the USC Trojans football team . He was on the Maxwell Award 2006 watch list for the best player in college football and was named to the 2006 All Pac - 10 team First Team and to the 2006 All Pac - 10 Second Team by rivals . com . Smith was named honorable mention on the SI . com All - American team and First - team All - American by CBS Sportsline . Smith was voted team MVP in 2006 by teammates of his 4th ranked Trojans team . Smith caught three touchdown passes from Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart in USC ' s 55 - 19 national championship / Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma . Professional career . New York Giants . Smith was drafted in the second round ( 51st overall ) by the New York Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft . He wore number 12 . Smith only played in 5 games in the 2007 regular season ( Weeks 1 , 2 , 15 , 16 , 17 ) , recording 8 catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns . However , after returning from a shoulder and hamstring injury , Smith turned in an outstanding postseason as he became a reliable third down receiver for quarterback Eli Manning . He made two big catches at the end of the first half in Dallas , which set up a game - tying touchdown and caught five passes in Super Bowl XLII , including four on third down . Smith and the Giants prevailed over the New England Patriots 17 - 14 . In the 2008 regular season , Smith became one of Manning ' s favorite targets , and not just on 3rd down as Smith led the Giants in receptions over Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress , who both started over Smith . Smith helped the Giants win the NFC East division . In the 2009 season , with the Giants ' loss of Burress and Toomer , Smith and Domenik Hixon were named the starting wideouts . Smith opened the season explosively , and by the end of week 4 , Smith led the NFL in receptions ( 34 ) , receiving yards ( 411 ) , and touchdown receptions ( 4 ) . In Week 15 , in a game against the Redskins , Smith broke the Giants franchise record for most receptions in a single season , also becoming the first Giants receiver in history to make 90 catches in one season . Smith was selected as an alternate in the 2010 Pro Bowl . He later replaced Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the 2010 Pro Bowl roster after Fitzgerald withdrew with an injury . Philadelphia Eagles . On August 10 , 2011 , Smith agreed to a one - year , $ 2 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles . He was placed on the active / physically unable to perform list on August 13 . He was activated from the list on August 27 . He had eleven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown before he was placed on injured reserve on December 12 due to a bone bruise in his knee . He played in nine games for the Eagles , with one start against the Arizona Cardinals on November 13 , in which he made five catches for 47 yards . St . Louis Rams . The St . Louis Rams signed Smith on March 26 , 2012 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . On April 2 , 2013 , Smith signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Smith announced his retirement on May 29 , 2013 . Personal . Smith ' s brother , Malcolm Smith , plays linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks , and was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII . According to his bio page from the NY Giants , Steve was a Public Policy / Management and Planning major at USC . He was born in Anchorage , Alaska , raised in Woodland Hills , California and Canoga Park , California , but currently resides in Clifton , New Jersey . Smith was robbed at gunpoint on November 25 , 2008 after arriving home , according to Clifton , New Jersey police . Smith had just returned to his house when he was approached from behind by a man who put a gun to Smith ' s head , Clifton police Captain Robert Rowan said . " He said to him , ' Give me everything you got , ' and Mr . Smith turned over his jewelry and money and cell phone , " Rowan said . Smith suffered no injuries and the investigation is ongoing .