60 Heroes: From Detractor to Defender of the NFLPA

When Robert Smith first became a Player Rep for the Minnesota Vikings in 1995 he did so to “get rid of” then-Executive Director Gene Upshaw. Smith, a star running back at Ohio State, had been drafted two years earlier by the Vikings and was unhappy with the rookie salary cap at the time. His anger, however, quickly dissolved into support as he grew more educated on the NFLPA’s mission, turning him into one of the union’s greatest player advocates.

Smith continued to serve as Player Rep and on the NFLPA’s Executive Committee until 2002. During that time, he gained the respect of his peers for his leadership and was one of 50 players to contribute to the joint United Negro College Fund scholarship program created by the NFLPA and NFL in 1995.

Although Smith chose to retire from the NFL after just eight seasons to better preserve his body, he did not stop lending a helping hand to the union. The former All-Pro rusher continued to volunteer as a part of the Committee on Agent Regulation and Discipline (CARD), which regulates and disciplines agents, while also serving as a stabilizing voice among active and former players.