Former Georgia football linebacker Roquan Smith just became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 tackles. Smith's total career tackles currently stands at 1,006, officially.
Smith began his career with the Chicago Bears, where he was drafted with the 8th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Smith quickly ingratiated himself with the Chicago Bears fanbase with his combination of speed, sure tackling and ability to diagnose plays giving them nostalgic memories of the days of Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. In his very first season as a professional, Smith would go on to record 122 tackles.
Dominance in Baltimore
Smith would spend four seasons in Chicago, earning second team All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021. After a breakdown in contract negotiations, Smith would be traded to the Baltimore Ravens midway through the 2022 season, where he had a career high 169 tackles, voted as first team All-Pro and selected to his first Pro Bowl.
With wind in his sails, 2023 would be much of the same for Smith. Having recorded 158 total tackles, he was selected to his second straight 1st team All-Pro and Pro Bowl.
Smith finished the 2024 season with 154 total tackles, which was most on the Ravens and 5th-most in the NFL. He was selected to his third consecutive 1st team All-Pro and Pro Bowl. Additionally in 2024, Smith was awarded another distinction when the Baltimore Ravens did something they had never done before in the history of their proud franchise, wearing captain patches on their uniforms.
For the first time ever, in their Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2024 NFL Playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens donned captain patches on their jerseys. Smith had the honor and prestige of being selected as one of the Ravens first-ever patched captains.
Smith just completed his seventh season in the NFL and will turn 28 in April, so time is surely on his side to build upon his already impressive resume.