Ihmir Smith-Marsette Bio
Ihmir Smith-Marsette (born August 29, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Across his professional career he has also spent time with the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 84 kilograms, Smith-Marsette has built his reputation on speed, return ability, and dependable hands out of the slot and on the perimeter. In 2023 he earned a Super Bowl championship ring as part of the Kansas City Chiefs, adding a major team honor to a resume that already included individual accolades from his college days in the Big Ten Conference.
Early Life and Background
Ihmir Smith-Marsette grew up in Newark, New Jersey, the city where he was born and raised. His athletic profile began to take shape long before his name appeared on NFL draft boards, as he developed a love for competition across multiple sports during his formative years. Newark’s strong gridiron tradition helped shape his early understanding of the game.
Smith-Marsette initially attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, where he played water polo, before transferring to Weequahic High School after his freshman year. At Weequahic he blossomed into one of the more versatile players in the region. As a senior he recorded 38 receptions for 773 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense, while contributing 43 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries on defense. He also scored three touchdowns as a return specialist, foreshadowing the role he would later embrace in the NFL.
Evaluated as a three-star recruit, Smith-Marsette chose to play college football at Iowa over scholarship offers from Boston College, Minnesota, and Rutgers. His commitment to the Hawkeyes launched the next phase of his development.
Path to American Football
Smith-Marsette’s progression through the prep ranks was marked by steady improvement, with his senior-year totals on both sides of the ball drawing attention from several Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference programs. His ability to contribute on offense, defense, and special teams made him an attractive multi-phase prospect for college recruiters seeking versatile playmakers.
Once he arrived at Iowa, the coaching staff deployed him across the receiving corps and on kick and punt returns. Across four college seasons he refined his route running, hands, and field vision. By his junior campaign he had emerged as one of the top all-purpose threats in the Big Ten, a performance that helped him earn First-team All-Big Ten honors and the conference’s Return Specialist of the Year award in 2018, which refers to his 2018 college season. Those honors positioned him for the jump to the NFL following his senior year.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette Career
Early Career (2021)
Smith-Marsette was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round, 157th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021, and began adjusting to the pace and complexity of the professional game during his first training camp. The Vikings valued his speed and return ability as he worked to carve out a role on offense and special teams.
His most memorable moment as a rookie came in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears, when he recorded his first career receiving touchdown. The score offered a glimpse of his big-play upside and gave the Vikings a developmental piece to build around heading into his second offseason.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2021–2022)
After his rookie campaign, Smith-Marsette spent the 2022 offseason and preseason competing for a roster spot in Minnesota. The Vikings’ acquisition of wide receiver Jalen Reagor, however, changed the depth chart, and on August 31, 2022, Smith-Marsette was waived as final cuts approached. His release ended his initial stint in Minnesota and sent him onto the waiver wire in search of a new opportunity.
Chicago Bears Era (2022)
The Chicago Bears claimed Smith-Marsette off waivers on September 1, 2022, giving him a quick landing spot. His time in Chicago was brief, as the Bears waived him on October 18. The short stint still provided valuable exposure to a different offensive system and coaching staff.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2022–2023)
On October 21, 2022, Smith-Marsette signed with the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs, who had developed a reputation for maximizing reserve talent. He was elevated to the active roster prior to the season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on January 6, 2023, allowing him to contribute during the regular-season finale. Smith-Marsette then became a Super Bowl champion when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 in Super Bowl LVII. He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2023, securing his place in the organization.
Carolina Panthers Era (2023–2024)
On August 29, 2023, Smith-Marsette was traded to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a swap of conditional 2025 seventh-round picks. He made an immediate impact on special teams, returning a punt 79 yards for a touchdown on November 9, 2023. That play marked the Panthers’ first punt return for a score since 2017. On March 12, 2024, he re-signed with Carolina under a one-year contract, though he was released on August 28.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
On September 9, 2024, Smith-Marsette signed with the New York Giants, where he was once again asked to handle a significant role on special teams. In the team’s Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. On August 26, 2025, he was released by the Giants as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith-Marsette is at his best when working in space, using his straight-line speed and vision to flip field position on kick and punt returns. As a receiver he is most effective on shallow crossers, screens, and vertical routes that allow him to build momentum before the catch. His willingness to contribute on coverage units and his coachable approach have helped him remain in demand across multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most celebrated professional moment came as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII championship roster, while his 100-yard kickoff return against the Indianapolis Colts in 2024 stands as one of the signature plays of his career. The 79-yard punt return for Carolina in 2023 and his first NFL receiving touchdown against Chicago in 2021 round out a growing list of milestone performances.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette Career Wins
Across his professional career, Ihmir Smith-Marsette has built a reputation for delivering in big moments, with his Super Bowl LVII championship ring serving as the headline team honor. He has supplemented that title with clutch individual returns for touchdowns on both kickoffs and punts, while contributing as a rotational receiver at every NFL stop.
NFL Highlights
Smith-Marsette’s first career receiving touchdown came in Week 15 of the 2021 season against the Chicago Bears while he was with the Minnesota Vikings. He later added a 79-yard punt return touchdown for the Carolina Panthers on November 9, 2023, and capped his 2024 season with the New York Giants by taking a kickoff 100 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Each of those plays underscored his value as a special teams weapon.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Smith-Marsette was named First-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year for his 2018 junior season at Iowa, an award year tied to that campaign. He finished his Hawkeyes career with multiple 700-yard receiving seasons and additional production as a rusher and returner, rounding out one of the more versatile statistical profiles of any receiver in his draft class.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s parents and extended family remains limited. He has frequently spoken about growing up in Newark, New Jersey, and the support network that helped him transition from Weequahic High School to the University of Iowa and eventually the NFL.
Personal Life
Smith-Marsette was arrested on November 1, 2020, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, an incident that led to a one-game team suspension during his senior season at Iowa. He has otherwise kept the majority of his personal life outside of the public spotlight as he continues to focus on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Smith-Marsette entered the 2025 offseason coming off a strong 2024 campaign with the New York Giants that included his NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. His role as a core special teams player and depth receiver gave the Giants flexibility heading into roster cutdowns.
On August 26, 2025, he was released by the Giants as part of final roster cuts before being re-signed to the practice squad the next day. That movement reflected the team’s continued belief in his return ability while also illustrating the constant churn of the wide receiver market.
Looking ahead, Smith-Marsette’s path back to the active roster will likely depend on his production on kick and punt coverage units and his ability to contribute as a situational receiver. With his speed and prior success on special teams, he remains a candidate to be elevated again during the season if injuries or performance open a window of opportunity.