Ex-NFL Quarterback, No Stranger to Pain, Joins Drug Company’s Effort to Bring Relief

Alex Smith, who underwent 17 surgeries and nearly lost his leg after a 2018 injury, is looking to help others dealing with pain.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith warms up before a preseason game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis on Sept. 3, 2015. L.G. Patterson/AP Photo

Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith is drawing on his experience with injury and pain management in a new endeavor in hopes of helping others.

The 40-year-old recently partnered with Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Pain Game Plan campaign, reflecting on a traumatic 2018 injury that changed the trajectory of his career.

“It’s something that is very personal to me, pain, unfortunately,” he told People magazine in an interview published May 1.

“The funny thing is, it’s personal to everybody and it’s so universal. That’s the crazy thing. I mean, maybe one of the most universal things that we all deal with. It’s not a matter of if, but when it happens.”

Smith was a first-overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 NFL Draft, and he spent seven years with the team before playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins.

During his first season with Washington nearly seven years ago, Smith was injured when he was sacked in the third quarter of a home game against the Houston Texans. The play left him with a compound fracture to the tibia and fibula in his right leg and he was immediately rushed to emergency surgery.

Despite the quick treatment, his battle was far from over as Smith developed necrotizing fasciitis—a rapid-spreading bacterial infection that eats away at flesh.

Smith then developed sepsis, a life-threatening complication of an infection, with doctors now working to save his life in addition to saving his leg from amputation.

“Looking back on my experience, I had time to kind of process it a little bit,” he told People.

“These weren’t conversations that you had, given the past of pain management in this country and a lot of the issues and side effects that we all know, and some of the dangers that come with some of those treatments. These are hard conversations, right?”

Through a lengthy rehabilitation process and 17 overall surgeries, Smith was able to fully recover and made a comeback in 2020 for the Redskins, appearing in eight games that season before retiring the following year.

Smith’s partnership with Vertex encourages individuals dealing with pain to be proactive and seek support in unexpected situations.

“When you’re dealing with acute pain, it’s hard to get to anything else. It’s so front of mind,” he said.

“How do you start a recovery process? How do you be dad, be a present husband when you’re dealing with these things. It affects everything. And again, I’m so grateful for so many people that helped me on my journey and that are still helping me.”