Longtime NFL executive AJ Smith died Sunday after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Mr. Smith was 75 years old.
The former Chargers general manager passed away after a seven-year battle with cancer, surrounded by his loved ones, his family said in a statement released through the Falcons.
Smith’s son, Kyle Smith, is Atlanta’s assistant general manager.
Smith spent 35 years in the NFL, starting as a part-time scout and eventually rising through the ranks to become the Chargers’ general manager, a position he held from 2003 to 2012.
He is the winningest general manager in Chargers history, winning 98 games including the playoffs over his 10 seasons at the helm.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos said, “A.J. It was a gentle side of him,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said. statement. “AJ built one of the greatest chapters in franchise history and made everyone around him better with his singular focus and enthusiasm for improving our organization. During this difficult time, AJ made everyone around him better. His thoughts are with his wife Sue, son Kyle, daughter Andrea and the entire Smith family.”
Smith was responsible for bringing the Chargers two influential figures into the organization, signing Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and ultimately bringing Philip Rivers to San Diego in 2004. He directed the story that follows.
Gates became the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (955), receiving yards (11,841) and receiving touchdowns (116).
Smith made the decision to select Eli Manning with the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, despite Manning’s camp’s opposition to the idea of being selected by the Chargers.
In the end, he traded Manning’s rights to the Giants for Rivers, and Big Blue acquired Rivers with the fourth overall pick.
Rivers set Chargers franchise records with 59,271 passing yards and 397 touchdown passes.
Smith also drafted Shawne Merriman, Vincent Jackson, Darren Sproles, Antonio Cromartie and Eric Weddle during his tenure as GM.
Smith also spent 14 years with the Bills, spending time with Washington in 2013 after being fired by the Chargers, and then retiring from the NFL in 2015.
