Bruce Smith ( Defensive end ) Bruce Bernard Smith ( born June 18 , 1963 ) is a former American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . He was a member of the Buffalo Bills teams that played in four consecutive Super Bowls as AFC champions . The holder of the NFL career record for quarterback sacks , Smith was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 , his first year of eligibility . High school and college careers . Smith is a native of Norfolk , Virginia , where he graduated from Booker T . Washington High School . Following an all - state high school career , Smith accepted an athletic scholarship to Virginia Tech . Known as " The Sack Man " ( both on and off the field ) of Virginia Tech football , Smith finished his college career in 1984 as the most honored player in Hokie history . Anticipating his future success in pursuing quarterbacks in the NFL , he had a career total of 71 tackles behind the line of scrimmage , for losses totaling 504 yards . Smith had 46 career sacks , including 22 during a junior season in 1983 that saw him named First - team All - America by the AFCA ( Coaches ) and Newspaper Enterprise Association . In 1984 , Smith capped off his tenure in Blacksburg with the Outland Trophy , given to the nation ' s top lineman , and a consensus selection to the All - America Team . Pro football career . Buffalo Bills . Following this stellar collegiate career , Smith was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the first pick of the 1985 NFL Draft . He quickly became known as a sack specialist , with 15 in 1986 and a personal season - best 19 , just two short of the then - NFL record , in 1990 . By 1989 , Smith , in notching his 52nd sack , had already become the Bills ' all - time sack leader , claiming a team record that he was to raise 119 times over the years . Some conjecture that his 171 sacks in Buffalo set a standard that " may be unreachable " for future Bills . In 1990 , his defensive performance helped bring the Bills to Super Bowl XXV , though they eventually lost to the Bill Parcells - led New York Giants . Still , Smith had an impressive performance in the game . He sacked Jeff Hostetler in the end zone in the second quarter , becoming only the fifth player to record a Super Bowl safety . Later , Smith forced New York to turn the ball over on downs by tackling running back Ottis Anderson for a two - yard loss on a fourth down conversion attempt . Only a failed last - second field goal attempt kept the team from its first NFL championship ( see K - Scott Norwood ' Wide Right ' ) . In 1991 , though Smith ' s knee problems forced him out for most of the season , the Bills once again reached the Super Bowl . In 1992 , in much better health , he was again a First - team All - Pro and was voted to the Pro Bowl while recording a team - leading 14 sacks . By 1996 , though the Bills ' run of Super Bowl appearances had ended , Smith was still putting up prolific numbers , with 90 tackle s and 14 sacks . In 1997 , Smith had 65 tackles and 14 sacks and by 1998 , although he was getting older he still had a respectable 50 tackles and ten sacks plus 100 others . Washington Redskins . After the 1999 season , Smith signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent . In his first season , he posted 58 tackles and ten sacks , although he was now playing in mostly passing situations . He pressed onward in pursuit of Reggie White ' s all - time sacks record ( 198 , achieved in 15 seasons ) , which he passed in Week 14 of the 2003 NFL season by sacking New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer in a 20 - 7 win at Giants Stadium . Smith finished his career with 200 career sacks . Smith had hinted in interviews that 2003 would be his final season . However , he never completely ruled out continuing to play . But on February 24 , 2004 , the Redskins released Smith , saving $ 6 . 5 million in salary cap space . Honors . In his 19 NFL seasons , Smith played in 279 games , amassing 200 sacks , two interceptions , 46 forced fumbles , and 15 fumble recoveries , which he returned for 33 yards and a touchdown . Of his 19 seasons in the NFL , 13 of them were seasons where he had at least ten sacks , a testament to his consistency year in and year out . He was also named All - Pro nine times . His 200 sacks give him the record for most career quarterback take - downs . As Smith spent most of his career in a 3 – 4 defensive scheme , a defensive scheme not geared toward creating sack opportunities for defensive ends , many consider the record particularly impressive . Indeed , Smith ' s peers elected him to the Pro Bowl every season from 1987 to 1998 ( with the exception of his injury - laden 1991 season ) . In 1987 , he was named the Pro Bowl MVP . Smith was twice named the AP ' s NFL Defensive Player of the Year ( 1990 , 1996 ) , twice named the NEA Defensive Player of the Year ( 1990 , 1993 ) and four times named UPI ' s AFC Defensive Player of the Year ( 1987 , 1988 , 1990 , 1996 ) . In 1999 , while still an active player , Smith was ranked number 58 on " The Sporting News " ' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players . In 2005 , he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame . In 2006 , Smith was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame . On August 13 , 2008 , he was part of the inaugural class to be inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame , an institution honoring athletes , coaches and administrators who made contributions to sports in Southeastern Virginia . Smith was inducted onto the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame during halftime of the Bills ' September 21 , 2008 game against the Oakland Raiders . In a particularly rich weekend for the Bills organization , Smith was joined in 2009 induction to the Hall of Fame by Buffalo Bills owner and founder , Ralph Wilson , Jr . . Smith ' s former defensive coordinator , Ted Cottrell , the architect of the sack - rich Buffalo years , served as his presenter during induction . Post - football . Smith now lives in Virginia Beach , Virginia . Having returned to his home state , Smith now works as a large - scale hotel designer , undertaking many projects with Armada Hoffler . Most recently , he returned to Blacksburg , the site of his collegiate successes , where he purchased the Red Lion Inn . He built a Hilton Garden Inn Hotel with 137 sleeping rooms and is currently redeveloping the site ( Smith ' s Landing , hotel and restaurant complex ) . A Baptist , he is a member of Queen Street Baptist Church in Norfolk . Smith and his wife Carmen have a son , Alston . Smith also works with Thurman Thomas in their new business venture , Legends Energy Group . They promote energy programs across North America . Legal trouble . Smith was arrested on May 15 , 2009 and convicted on July 9 , 2009 with driving under the influence , speeding , and refusing to take an alcohol breath test . Smith has two previous DUI arrests .