Danny Smith was 67 years old at the time, well in the at-risk range for contracting the virus that spawned a worldwide pandemic.
But testing positive for covid-19 late during the 2020 season left Smith with only minor cold-like symptoms during his NFL-mandated banishment from Pittsburgh Steelers headquarters.
“For me to not have football about killed me,” Smith said upon returning to the team. “Not the virus. (It was) not having football that about killed me. It was very hard.”
In that context in getting to know Smith, it should come as no surprise that the former longtime Steelers special teams coordinator is staying the game to coach for a 51st consecutive season.
Freed by the Steelers organization to pursue other coaching opportunities last week after the resignation of head coach Mike Tomlin, Smith was hired Tuesday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as special-teams coordinator.
The 2026 season will mark the 32nd consecutive for Smith as an NFL assistant, his 30th as a special teams coordinator.
“Danny is one of the most respected and highly regarded special teams coaches in our league,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said in team-released announcement of Smith’s hiring. “He is an extraordinary teacher and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all areas of special teams. I am confident that he will get the most out of our players and take our special teams unit to the next level.”
Smith guided the Steelers’ special teams for the past 13 seasons while on Tomlin’s staff. The past two seasons, the unit ranked among the top seven in the advanced metric Expected Points Added.
A Pittsburgh native who played at Central Catholic High School and in college at Edinboro, coaching for the Steelers held meaning to Smith.
“It’s pretty nice,” Smith said in 2024. “I’m telling you, I’ve been in five organizations, OK? And I’m very proud of all five. I would not talk bad about any of them.
“I’m from here. This is special.”
Smith turned 72 this past season but was as energetic as ever, his raspy voice barking out commands ubiquitous on the practice field during special-teams periods.
Smith also is an influential member of a fraternity of veteran NFL special teams coaches who have helped shape rule changes over the years. Notably, the introduction of the “dynamic” kickoff in 2024.
As he entered his late 60s and two years ago when Smith turned 70, he would get asked how long he planned on coaching or if he was considering retirement.
“It’s very hard to not be around these guys,” Smith said during a recent season. “I miss them when I am not around them. I miss it when we do a lot of virtual things and things like that because I want to look them in the eye. I am a hands-on kind of guy.”
Five days after Smith’s 70th birthday in November 2023, he was at the receiving end of a violent collision on the sidelines late during a win against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium.
Danny Smith, a coach in his 60’s, got completely run over. He is a tough dude!! Gets up. Seems ok. Hope he is ????????. Players love this guy pic.twitter.com/LUUYLNIqlN
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) November 13, 2023
Smith ended up tearing three muscles in the rotator cuff “off the bone” in his left shoulder. It would require offseason surgery, but Smith did not miss a game despite considerable pain.
“I have been hit a lot and hit hard,” Smith said at the time, referencing a knee fracture from during a game three decades prior and broken ribs, vertebrae and fingers from other incidents. “I have a lot of metal in my body over that.
“I have to learn to get the (expletive) out of the way.”
Incomparable Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith tore his rotator cuff in the collision on the sidelines on the last play of Sunday’s game pic.twitter.com/77lsP0lb3Y
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 16, 2023
Smith became known across the NFL — and among Steelers fans — for the wad of bubble gum he chewed during games. Local candy stores would send boxes of gum to the Steelers’ facility, and Smith said he would turn superstitious about which brand to chew based on if whether the Steelers won or lost a game.
Going back to the pandemic, NFL coaches and players were given the opportunity to “opt out” of the season.
It should be no surprise that Smith said he gave “no thought” to that idea.
“It never entered my mind,” he said at the time. “Man, I don’t do anything but coach football. I don’t have any hobbies. I don’t have nothing. And I’ve been called a lot of names in this business, but a “house cat” has never been one of them. I’m not one to sit at home and do nothing.”