This past April, Alex Smith the former number one draft pick in the 2005 NFL draft called his football career over. It’s been a journey I don’t think anybody could have imagined when the San Francisco 49ers made him the first pick in the 2005 NFL draft.

It’s also been a tale of two quarterbacks, Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers who are linked together by that 2005 draft in which both were selected. Almost 16 years later, Alex Smith would win the 2020 NFL Comeback player of the Year award, while Aaron Rodgers would win his third NFL MVP award for the 2020 season.

Welcome to the NFL rookie quarterback. This photo is from the 49ers vs Raiders pre-season game at Candlestick park in August of 2005.

Alex Smith prepares to pass the football during a sunny day at Candlestick park.

Perhaps the biggest play of his entire career, Alex Smith’s 2012 Playoff Touchdown Run vs New Orleans Saints at Candlestick park.

It wasn’t all glamour playoff touchdown runs for Alex Smith. In fact it was 6 different Offensive coordinators over 7 seasons for the number one draft pick during his first seven years in San Francisco.

Alex Smith visit Levi’s Park to play against his old team, this time as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Normally two quarterbacks meeting after the game isn’t much of a big deal. Clearly this wasn’t the case in 2014 as Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick greet each other in Levi’s Stadium after the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas Chiefs played in October of that year.