The San Francisco 49ers NFL football team has announced it has traded quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs. In return, the 49ers are expected to receive an undisclosed 2013 draft pick and a conditional 2014 draft pick.
Smith himself was a number 1 draft pick by the 49ers in 2005, and before that played in college for the University of Utah, where he went 21-1 as a starter. His rookie season in the NFL was marred by an injury, and he played only nine games that season. Smith has fought injuries and changing coaching staff in his eight seasons with the 49ers, ending up with a 59.3% pass completion rate and 81 touchdowns.
“We would like to thank Alex for his contributions to the 49ers organization over the past eight years,” said Trent Baalke, general manager for the 49ers. “He is a true professional who represented the 49ers with class on and off the field.”
The 49ers have posted a photo gallery of Smith’s career with the team to the 49ers website. 49ers fans have been using the hashtag #ThankYouAlex to recount their memories and express their feelings toward Smith via Twitter:
Alex Smith 2012 Epic Final Drive #ThankYouAlexhttp://t.co/cE0jchFjYa
Class act both on and off the field, Alex Smith played the hand he was dealt & didn’t complain once. #ThankYouAlex#UtesInTheNFL
8 seasons. 85 games. 1 class act. #ThankYouAlexhttp://t.co/gLgEmaSjZY
Optimism. Letdown. Should’ve taken Rodgers. Boo. Back again? We were wrong. So wrong. Naked bootleg!!!! Wally Pipp. Class act. #ThankYouAlex
#ThankYouAlexhttp://t.co/O73vQZHDCU”
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I understand the #ThankYouAlex tweets, but seriously? They should be #ThankYouHarbaugh w/o Jim, Alex is getting boo’d somewhere.