At the end of last season, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith looked like he was on his way out of town. But one year makes a huge difference, especially a record-breaking, 13-3 season, and the 49ers are looking to bring Smith back for next year. And it’s one of the great stories of this NFL season.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I told Alex, ‘Hey, we’re going to want you to come back here next year.’ He’s focused on the season, and that’s where his mindset wants to be. And I totally respect that, and we’ll talk about it and address it once the season is over. That’s the way I understand it right now.”
Smith wasn’t under contract beyond last season, and with a lockout in place and a new coaching staff coming to town (bringing Smith’s seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons), it appeared that he was on his way out. But Smith and Harbaugh hit it off during a brief meeting, when the lockout was lifted by court order for one day in the spring.
Smith took a handshake agreement from Harbaugh that they’d take care of him when the lockout was over and he loaded his car with game film and playbooks. He taught himself Harbaugh’s offense, and then he taught the rest of the team, all while he was still not under contract. The 49ers honored the handshake and gave Smith a one-year contract at $4.9 million, giving Smith one more chance and one season to prove himself with a coaching staff that believed in him.
He responded by throwing for 3,150 yards, 17 TDs and only 5 INTs. He tied an NFL record for fewest turnovers by an offense with 10 total, tying the 2010 New England Patriots. He led the 49ers to a 13-3 record and they enter the playoffs as the number two seed in the NFC. Smith is still focused on the task at hand – the first playoff appearance of his career – and not ready to look beyond the next game.
“You know, it’s hard when you’re still in the thick of it. It’s probably a better question to ask me after the end of the season when everything is wrapped up,” he said. “Right now there’s still a lot on the line. Not quite time for me to reflect on anything. We’ve done some good things, putting ourselves in a good situation.”
Smith has earned the respect of his teammates as well. “I firmly believe that Alex Smith can do nothing but just keep getting better,” said tight end Vernon Davis, who had 67 catches for 792 yards and 6 TDs this season.
“At this point … all he can do is get better. If he’s willing and that’s what he wants. He wants to be successful and learn as much as he possibly can about this game and try to find ways to help this team get better down the road. I’m all for it. I’m a big supporter.”
Memories are short in the NFL, and loyalty can be hard to come by. The story of Alex Smith, Jim Harbaugh and the 2011 San Francisco 49ers is a great example of loyalty – both from a player to a team and from the team back to the player – and how loyalty is a key piece of building a successful franchise.
