Brandon Smith Bio
Brandon Smith is an American professional football wide receiver playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. Born in Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, he played college football at Iowa and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after going unselected in that year’s draft. Over several seasons, he built an NFL career while also seeing time in the XFL and United Football League.
Smith has been a member of six NFL organizations since turning pro, including the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent meaningful stretches in the spring football leagues, suiting up for the DC Defenders in both the XFL and the United Football League. His consistent presence on NFL rosters and practice squads reflects the persistence and adaptability that has defined his football career.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Smith was born on December 10, 1998, in Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, where he attended Lake Cormorant High School. He was a three-year letterman in football and a four-time letterman in track and field, emerging as one of the most productive offensive players in his high school conference during his final two seasons. As a junior, Smith caught 78 passes for 1,382 yards and 15 touchdowns, then repeated the feat as a senior with 80 receptions for 1,509 yards and 19 touchdowns, closing his high school career with 206 receptions for 3,672 yards and 41 touchdowns.
He earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore, first-team all-state recognition as both a junior and senior, and was named the 5A Region I Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year in both of his final two seasons. In track and field, Smith placed second in the high jump at the Mississippi state championships as a junior, then won the state title in the event as a senior. His athleticism, production, and all-around ability made him a three-star recruit who committed to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Path to Professional Football
Smith enrolled at Iowa and appeared in 10 games as a freshman in 2017, catching three passes for 15 yards while learning the college game and contributing on special teams. He earned a starting role as a sophomore in 2018, starting all 12 games and recording 28 receptions for 361 yards and two touchdowns. His junior season in 2019 was his best statistically, with 37 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns, establishing him as a reliable target in the Iowa passing attack.
As a senior in 2020, Smith finished with 23 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns, concluding his collegiate career with 88 catches for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns. Despite having a remaining year of eligibility, Smith opted to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, forgoing that extra season to pursue professional football. He went undrafted and signed immediately with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent, launching his professional career the way many of the most durable NFL receivers have.
Brandon Smith Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
Brandon Smith signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL Draft and caught seven passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in all four of the team’s preseason games. He was waived on August 31, 2021, then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He spent the remainder of the 2021 season on the practice squad and signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on January 17, 2022.
During the 2022 preseason, Smith made six receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, further solidifying his value to the organization. He was waived again on August 30, 2022, re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and remained there through the 2022 season before being released on January 30, 2023. His tenure with Dallas included regular contributions in preseason action and consistent presence on the practice squad across two seasons.
DC Defenders and Arizona Cardinals (2023)
Smith signed with the DC Defenders of the XFL on February 23, 2023, and appeared in eight games, none as a starter, catching eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown while returning 10 kickoffs for 218 yards with a long of 37. He also scored one two-point conversion attempt, showcasing his ability to contribute across multiple phases of the offense. Following the 2023 XFL season, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals on June 12, 2023.
Smith appeared in two preseason games for the Cardinals, catching one pass for six yards, but was waived on August 29, 2023. He returned to the DC Defenders for the 2024 season, which the franchise played in the newly formed United Football League. This second stint proved more productive, as Smith started five of eight games, caught 18 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 40, and contributed three tackles from the wide receiver position.
New York Jets and New England Patriots (2024-2025)
Smith returned to the NFL by signing with the New York Jets on August 2, 2024, and appeared in three preseason games, catching five passes for 120 yards. After being waived on August 27, he re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and was later elevated to the active roster for the Week 15 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Smith made his NFL regular-season debut in that contest, appearing on one offensive snap.
He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 6, 2025, and spent the 2025 season navigating the roster and practice squad cycle. Waived during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, he re-signed to the practice squad, was briefly promoted to the active roster in October, then released and re-signed to the practice squad again before a final release on December 2, 2025. On December 23, 2025, Smith signed to the New England Patriots practice squad, which released him on January 13, 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2026-Present)
On January 15, 2026, Smith signed a reserve/futures contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining another NFL organization and continuing his search for a stable and lasting role in the league. The Steelers signing provides Smith with the opportunity to compete for a roster spot during the team’s offseason program and training camp.
Standing 6-foot-1 and approximately 220 pounds, Smith brings the kind of size and athletic profile that fits well within NFL wide receiver systems. His background in track and field, specifically the high jump, contributes leaping ability that helps him compete for contested catches. Smith’s college experience at Iowa included regular blocking assignments, and that positional awareness and willingness to contribute on special teams have been noted throughout his professional career.
During his second stint with the DC Defenders in 2024, Smith demonstrated offensive potential worth noting, starting five of eight games in the United Football League and scoring two receiving touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs effectively during his first DC stint in the XFL, averaging 21.8 yards per return. Before making his NFL regular-season debut with the Jets in December 2024, he spent three seasons on NFL practice squads and active rosters without seeing regular-season game action, making that single-snap debut a milestone earned through sustained persistence.
Brandon Smith Career Wins
Brandon Smith’s career offensive statistics span college football, the United Football League, and the NFL practice system. His most significant production came during his college career at Iowa, where he accumulated 88 receptions for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns over four seasons. In the United Football League with the DC Defenders in 2024, Smith started five games and recorded 18 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. His NFL regular-season debut came in December 2024, appearing on one offensive snap for the New York Jets.
College Football Highlights
Smith finished his Iowa Hawkeyes career with 88 receptions for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns across four seasons. His junior year in 2019 was his most productive statistically, with 37 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns. He appeared in 37 total games during his Hawkeyes career, establishing himself as a consistent option in Iowa’s passing attack before leaving early for the NFL Draft.
Other Wins and Performances
In the United Football League with the DC Defenders in 2024, Smith started five of eight games and caught 18 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. During his first DC Defenders stint in the 2023 XFL season, he caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in eight appearances. In the NFL preseason with the Dallas Cowboys, he caught 13 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns across the 2021 and 2022 preseasons. He also appeared in three preseason games with the New York Jets in 2024, catching five passes for 120 yards.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be a transitional year for Brandon Smith, as he navigated the active roster and practice squad system with the New York Jets before finishing the year on the New England Patriots practice squad. Waived during the Jets final roster cuts in late August, he re-signed to the practice squad the next day and spent the early portion of the season developing and contributing in a practice setting. He was briefly promoted to the active roster in October but returned to the practice squad shortly after before his final release in early December.
On December 23, 2025, the New England Patriots signed Smith to their practice squad, giving him an opportunity to finish the year with another NFL organization. He remained with the Patriots for three weeks before being released on January 13, 2026, setting the stage for his next move. The constant movement between practice squads and active rosters reflects the competitive nature of the NFL’s depth chart and the determination required to maintain a professional football career.