University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Legend Aaron Smith Added to 2024 Hall of Fame Class
7/30/2024 6:24:00 PM | Football, General
GREELEY, Colo. – A long time in the making for Aaron Smith culminates with his enshrinement in the University of Northern Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame in September.
"We are excited Aaron and his family will be joining us at this year's induction ceremony," Darren Dunn, University of Northern Colorado Director of Athletics, said. " We are so proud of Aaron's accomplishments on and off the field. We are honored to be able to finally welcome him into the Hall of Fame."
A menacing figure on the UNC defensive line, Smith helped the Bears to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Football Championships in 1996 and 1997. He led the team in sacks in each of his four seasons and finished with a school-record 46. Smith holds the Bears mark for most sacks in a campaign, with 22.0 in 1997, while his 4.5 at South Dakota State Nov. 8, 1997, is the most in program history in a single game. He ranks first on the school's list for tackles for loss in a game with 6.5 against South Dakota State Oct. 10, 1998, while his 29.0 in the 1997 season and 75.0 over his career top the rankings. His 234 career tackles place him 15th on the Bears all-time list.
He led by example as a team captain and earned Daktronics, CoSIDA, Burger King, AFCA and FB Football Gazette First Team All-American Honors in 1997. Smith collected All-North Central Conference Most Valuable Defensive Lineman and First Team honors in 1997 and 1998.
Following his collegiate career, the Steelers drafted Smith in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, with the 109th overall pick, the highest selection by a Bear at the time and currently the second-highest in program history. He spent his entire 13-year NFL career (1999-2011) in Pittsburgh, winning two titles. The Steelers defeated Seattle in 2006 in Super Bowl XL and 2009 vs. Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII.
During his professional career, Smith amassed 481 tackles, 44.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and one interception. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2004, was named to the 2000s All-Decade Team, and was elected to the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor in 2023.
The Hall of Fame committee elected Smith to the Hall in 2008, while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was not enshrined because he was unable to attend the ceremony.
The two-time Super Bowl Champion enters the Bears Hall of Fame with the rest of the 2024 class, with representatives from four different programs: Tad Boyle (men's basketball)*, Mariel Gutierrez '18 (women's soccer, Jed Roberts '89 (football)*, Tom Runnells '78 (baseball), 'Savannah Smith '19 (women's basketball), Jamie White (women's basketball)*. The selection committee voted Jordan Davis '19 (men's basketball), as part of the 2024 class but due to professional basketball obligations, he deferred his induction until the 2026 class.
Smith and the rest of the 2024 class will be recognized at the University Center on UNC's campus Friday, September 13, 2024, and recognized at the home football opener the following day. Registration for the event, which is $40 per person and $320 per table of eight until August 13 and $50/$400 after, is now open and can be completed online here.
*Inductee was previously elected and deferred induction until this year. To read the bios of the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame class click here.
"We are excited Aaron and his family will be joining us at this year's induction ceremony," Darren Dunn, University of Northern Colorado Director of Athletics, said. " We are so proud of Aaron's accomplishments on and off the field. We are honored to be able to finally welcome him into the Hall of Fame."
A menacing figure on the UNC defensive line, Smith helped the Bears to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Football Championships in 1996 and 1997. He led the team in sacks in each of his four seasons and finished with a school-record 46. Smith holds the Bears mark for most sacks in a campaign, with 22.0 in 1997, while his 4.5 at South Dakota State Nov. 8, 1997, is the most in program history in a single game. He ranks first on the school's list for tackles for loss in a game with 6.5 against South Dakota State Oct. 10, 1998, while his 29.0 in the 1997 season and 75.0 over his career top the rankings. His 234 career tackles place him 15th on the Bears all-time list.
He led by example as a team captain and earned Daktronics, CoSIDA, Burger King, AFCA and FB Football Gazette First Team All-American Honors in 1997. Smith collected All-North Central Conference Most Valuable Defensive Lineman and First Team honors in 1997 and 1998.
Following his collegiate career, the Steelers drafted Smith in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, with the 109th overall pick, the highest selection by a Bear at the time and currently the second-highest in program history. He spent his entire 13-year NFL career (1999-2011) in Pittsburgh, winning two titles. The Steelers defeated Seattle in 2006 in Super Bowl XL and 2009 vs. Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII.
During his professional career, Smith amassed 481 tackles, 44.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and one interception. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2004, was named to the 2000s All-Decade Team, and was elected to the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor in 2023.
The Hall of Fame committee elected Smith to the Hall in 2008, while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was not enshrined because he was unable to attend the ceremony.
The two-time Super Bowl Champion enters the Bears Hall of Fame with the rest of the 2024 class, with representatives from four different programs: Tad Boyle (men's basketball)*, Mariel Gutierrez '18 (women's soccer, Jed Roberts '89 (football)*, Tom Runnells '78 (baseball), 'Savannah Smith '19 (women's basketball), Jamie White (women's basketball)*. The selection committee voted Jordan Davis '19 (men's basketball), as part of the 2024 class but due to professional basketball obligations, he deferred his induction until the 2026 class.
Smith and the rest of the 2024 class will be recognized at the University Center on UNC's campus Friday, September 13, 2024, and recognized at the home football opener the following day. Registration for the event, which is $40 per person and $320 per table of eight until August 13 and $50/$400 after, is now open and can be completed online here.
*Inductee was previously elected and deferred induction until this year. To read the bios of the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame class click here.
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