J. T. Smith (American football)

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1955)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{BLP sources|date=May 2011}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = John Thomas (J. T.) Smith

| position = Wide receiver, return specialist

| number = 81, 86, 84

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|10|29}}

| birth_place = Leonard, Texas, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 185

| high_school = Big Spring {{nowrap|(Big Spring, Texas)}}

| college = North Texas

| undraftedyear = 1978

| teams =

• Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1978}})
• Kansas City Chiefs (1978–{{NFL Year|1984}})
• St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1985}}–{{NFL Year|1990}})

| pastcoaching =

• Iowa Barnstormers ({{AFL Year|2011}})
  Interim head coach

| highlights =

• First-team All-Pro (1980)
• Second-team All-Pro (1987)
• 2× Pro Bowl (1980, 1988)
• NFL receptions leader (1987)
• NFL receiving yards leader (1987)

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 544

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 6,974

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 35

| pfr = S/SmitJT00

}}

John Thomas "J. T." Smith (born October 29, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League from 1978 to 1990. He played college football for the North Texas Mean Green. Smith played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the St.Louis/Phoenix Cardinals. His best year as a professional came during the strike shortened 1987 season for the Cardinals when he led the NFL with 91 receptions for 1,117 yards, a feat aided by the fact he played alongside the replacement players while his usual teammates were on strike.{{Cite web |title=J.T. Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitJT00.htm |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

On May 17, 2011, Smith was named the interim head coach of the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.theiowabarnstormers.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=147|title=Barnstormers: Head Coach John Gregory Resigns|date=May 17, 2011|work=Iowa Barnstormers|access-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319093149/http://www.theiowabarnstormers.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=147|archive-date=March 19, 2012|url-status=dead}} He remained the head coach until the conclusion of the season.