Trey Smith Bio
Henry Louis “Trey” Smith III is an American professional football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 321 lb (146 kg), he plays the guard position wearing jersey number 65. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers before he was selected by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Smith has developed into one of the most decorated young offensive linemen in the league. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and a multi-year Pro Bowl selection, and he signed a landmark contract extension in 2025 that made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Smith was born on June 16, 1999, in Humboldt, Tennessee. He grew up in the western part of the state and attended the University School of Jackson, a private school known for producing collegiate athletes across multiple sports. At University School of Jackson, he established himself as a three-time All-State offensive lineman and quickly became one of the most talked-about high school football prospects in the country.
Regarded as a five-star recruit, Smith was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2017 by ESPN. He chose to play college football at the University of Tennessee over scholarship offers from Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. His commitment to the in-state Volunteers program gave Tennessee a centerpiece for its offensive line rebuild.
Path to American Football
Smith’s path to the NFL began on campus at Tennessee, where he was immediately thrust into a starting role. In his true freshman year, he started all twelve games for the Volunteers, beginning at right guard before shifting to left tackle, and he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Second Team for his play in 2017.
His development was paused during his sophomore season when Tennessee’s medical staff discovered blood clots in his lungs and ruled him out indefinitely. Smith missed the remainder of the 2018 season while recovering. Cleared to return for his junior year, he moved to left guard as true freshman Wanya Morris took over at left tackle, and he earned first-team All-SEC honors. After briefly considering the 2020 NFL draft, he announced he would return for his senior season, started all ten games, and secured another first-team All-SEC selection in 2020.
Trey Smith Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Smith spent four seasons at the University of Tennessee, working his way from a true freshman starter into one of the most reliable offensive linemen in the SEC. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2017, then bounced back from a blood-clot diagnosis in 2018 to earn back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors in 2019 and 2020. By the end of his college career, he had appeared in more than thirty games for the Volunteers and was widely viewed as a polished, pro-ready interior lineman.
NFL Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Smith was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round, 226th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft and signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021. He was named the Chiefs’ starting right guard immediately as a rookie, started all 17 regular-season games, and added three playoff starts. He finished his first season on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In 2022, Smith started 16 regular-season games and the Chiefs’ three playoff games. He started at right guard in Super Bowl LVII and helped anchor an offensive line that gave up zero sacks as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35, earning Smith his first Super Bowl championship ring.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2023–Present)
Smith started all 17 regular-season games in 2023 and won his second straight championship when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII. He continued his iron-man stretch in 2024, starting all 17 regular-season games and all three postseason games for the Chiefs, helping the team reach Super Bowl LIX where they lost 40–22 to the Eagles. He earned Pro Bowl recognition for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
In February 2025, the Chiefs placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Smith, and on July 15, 2025, he signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with $70 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. He appeared and started in 12 games during the 2025 season for the Chiefs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Smith is a powerful, road-grading interior lineman whose game is built on leverage, length, and finishing blocks in the run game. He pairs heavy hands with strong technique at the line of scrimmage, and his durability has been a defining trait of his career, logging 79 games played and 79 games started through the 2025 season. His ability to anchor against power rushers has made him a centerpiece of the Chiefs’ offensive scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Smith started at right guard in Super Bowl LVII, where Kansas City’s offensive line gave up zero sacks in a 38–35 victory over the Eagles, and he returned the following year to help the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII. His July 2025 contract extension made him the highest-paid guard in the league, a marker of how his stock has risen since his sixth-round selection.
Trey Smith Career Wins
Smith’s resume features two Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs, earned in back-to-back seasons. Across the regular season and playoffs, he has been a steady presence on one of the most productive offenses in the league, with 79 games played and 79 games started to his name through the 2025 season.
Super Bowl Highlights
Smith started at right guard in Super Bowl LVII, helping the Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 while the offensive line surrendered zero sacks. The following season, he started again and won his second straight title when Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his Super Bowl appearances, Smith has earned Pro Bowl selections for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2021. At the collegiate level, he was a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree in 2019 and 2020 and a second-team All-SEC pick in 2017.
Trey Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Personal Life
Smith is a Christian and has been open about the role faith plays in his life. His oldest sister, Ashley, also works in the NFL, running the league’s player engagement program, which supports NFL players’ personal and professional growth. Beyond football, Smith made a guest cameo as himself in the 2024 Hallmark Channel original film Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter for Smith, beginning with the Chiefs placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on him in February. After a long negotiation, he signed a four-year, $94 million extension with $70 million guaranteed on July 15, 2025, becoming the highest-paid guard in the NFL and locking in his long-term future in Kansas City.
On the field, he appeared and started in 12 games during the 2025 regular season, continuing his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable interior linemen. His play at right guard remained a stabilizing force for the Chiefs’ offense, and his Pro Bowl selection for the 2025 season underscored another strong individual campaign.
With his contract situation settled and his status as a franchise cornerstone secured, Smith’s outlook in Kansas City is firmly tied to the Chiefs’ continued pursuit of championships, and he is expected to remain a central figure on the offensive line for years to come.
