Celebrating Alex Smith’s top five moments with Kansas City Chiefs

1. Greatest Comeback in Team History (at the time)

Before Patrick Mahomes started his great streak of playoff comeback victories, Alex Smith gave one of the best performances at the quarterback position in Chiefs history. A year before his show out victory in the 2017 season opener, Smith provided another big time performance in Week 1 of the 2016 season.

Playing against their rival San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs found themselves down 24-3 near the end of the third quarter. After Chargers kicker Josh Lambo gave them the 21-point lead, Smith and the Chiefs offense took over. Smith threw Tyreek Hill his first career reception and touchdown with 2:47 left in the fourth quarter. Following another Chargers field goal early into the fourth quarter, Smith found himself down 17 points. In the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, Smith led the Chiefs on three scoring drives, including a last minute touchdown by Spencer Ware to tie the game at 27-27, sending the game into overtime.

After already completing a 21 point comeback, all Smith had to do from that point was to finish it off. The Chiefs won the coin flip in overtime and got the ball to put the game away. In 10 plays, Smith led the Chiefs to a game-winning touchdown and completed what was then the largest comeback in Chiefs history. Smith ended the thriller by deciding to keep the ball on an option play, diving into the end zone to end the game at 33-27.

Smith was able to take the near Week 1 misery and turn it into a shock for Chiefs fans—as well as the rest of the NFL. This comeback is remembered by many Chiefs fans with the famous photo of him screaming, after taking off his helmet. Smith’s grit and determination in one of the greatest comebacks in Chiefs history was his shining moment in his time as quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.