Preston Smith Bio
Preston Demarquis Smith is an American professional football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 17, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, he played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs before entering the league in 2015. Over the course of his career, Smith has played for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers, establishing himself as a durable pass rusher known for his production against the run and the pass.
Selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, Smith developed into a reliable edge defender whose combination of size and length has allowed him to play multiple spots along the defensive front. He has also earned recognition as a First-team All-SEC selection from his senior season at Mississippi State, underscoring the foundation he built before turning professional.
Early Life and Background
Preston Demarquis Smith was born on November 17, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in the metropolitan Atlanta area and attended Stephenson High School in nearby Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he first developed as a football player. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a two-star recruit by 247Sports.com and Scout.com, while Rivals.com listed him as a three-star prospect.
Despite a modest recruiting ranking, Smith received multiple scholarship offers and chose to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs over programs including Kentucky, Syracuse, and West Virginia. His commitment to Mississippi State set the stage for a college career that would transform him from a lightly-recruited defensive prospect into an NFL draft selection.
Path to American Football
Smith arrived at Mississippi State and worked his way onto the field quickly, appearing in eight games as a true freshman during the 2011 season. He recorded a forced fumble in a 31–3 win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, an early sign of his knack for creating game-changing plays. In 2012, he appeared in all 13 games and led the Bulldogs with 4.5 sacks, establishing himself as a rising defender.
As a junior in 2013, Smith recorded 2.5 sacks, including 2.0 in a 59–26 loss to LSU, and continued to build a reputation as a disruptive edge player. His senior campaign in 2014 became his breakout year, as he earned Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week honors in each of the first three weeks. He finished the season with 42 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, and a touchdown, and he was named First-team All-SEC. By the end of his senior season, CBS and NFL Draft Scout projected him as a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Preston Smith Career
Early Career (2015–2018, Washington Redskins)
The Washington Redskins selected Smith in the second round with the 38th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, making him the seventh defensive end taken that year. He signed a four-year, $5.77 million contract that included $3.16 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.46 million. Smith made his professional regular-season debut in the opener against the Miami Dolphins and recorded two solo tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and his first career sack on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, a 13-yard loss during the third quarter.
By Week 13, Smith had earned his first career start, and on December 26, 2015, he tied his combined-tackle high with four while also registering three sacks on Sam Bradford in a 38–24 win at the Philadelphia Eagles. His performance earned him the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Smith finished his rookie campaign with 35 combined tackles, eight sacks, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and two starts. The Redskins finished first in the NFC East at 9–7 and made the playoffs, where Smith recorded three combined tackles, a sack, and the first safety of his career in a 35–18 NFC Wildcard loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Era (2019–2024)
On March 14, 2019, Smith signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Green Bay Packers and made an immediate impact. In his Packers debut against the Chicago Bears, he recorded five tackles and 1.5 sacks on Mitchell Trubisky in a 10–3 win. Two weeks later, against the Denver Broncos, he sacked Joe Flacco three times and forced a fumble recovered by Green Bay in a 27–16 win, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He added 1.5 sacks on Matthew Stafford in a Week 6 win over the Detroit Lions and two sacks on Kyle Allen in a Week 10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Smith closed his first Packers season with three tackles and 1.5 sacks in a Week 16 win over the Minnesota Vikings, then recorded two sacks on Russell Wilson in the Divisional Round win over the Seattle Seahawks, including one at the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter. He finished 2019 with 56 tackles, 12 sacks, and four pass deflections. In 2020, his production slipped, and on March 12, 2021, he agreed to a restructured contract with performance incentives tied to reaching 14 sacks. He responded with nine sacks as a full-time starter while Za’Darius Smith dealt with injuries, and he drew strong grades from Pro Football Focus. On March 14, 2022, Smith signed a four-year, $52.5 million extension that ran through 2026. After Green Bay hired defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and installed a 4–3 defense, Smith moved back to defensive end in 2024 and started nine games, recording 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2024–2025)
On November 5, 2024, the Packers traded Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Pittsburgh ran a 3–4 defense, which prompted Smith to switch back to outside linebacker. Smith told reporters he was not comfortable with his new role as a defensive end in Hafley’s scheme and had requested the trade, which the Packers granted. He was released by the Steelers on February 14, 2025.
Washington Commanders Era (2025–Present)
On September 17, 2025, Smith signed with the Washington Commanders, returning to the franchise that originally drafted him. He rejoined a defensive front where he had spent his first four professional seasons, providing veteran depth and pass-rushing experience. The move positioned Smith to play a familiar role along the edge while serving as a mentor to younger defensive linemen.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith is built at 196 cm and 120 kg, a frame that has allowed him to set the edge against the run while still generating pressure as a rusher. He has shown the ability to play both defensive end in 4–3 schemes and outside linebacker in 3–4 alignments, and he has produced multiple double-digit sack seasons when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Smith’s defining moments are his three-sack game on Sam Bradford in 2015, his first career touchdown after recovering a Ryan Kerrigan-caused fumble in the end zone in 2018, his NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in 2019, and his two-sack performance on Russell Wilson in a Packers playoff win.
Preston Smith Career Wins
Preston Smith’s career has been highlighted by multiple team victories, including his first Packers debut win over the Bears, a Week 3 win over the Broncos that earned him a conference award, and a Divisional Round playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
NFL Highlights
Smith has recorded double-digit sacks in a season, including eight as a rookie with the Redskins and 12 with the Packers in 2019, and he posted eight sacks again in 2017 with Washington. He also earned his first career safety in his first playoff game against the Packers in January 2016.
Other Performances
Smith earned First-team All-SEC honors in 2014 after a nine-sack senior season that included two interceptions and a touchdown. He was also voted among the best under-25 players in the NFL in March 2016.
Preston Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information on Smith’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and has spoken about the influence of his hometown community on his development as a football player.
Personal Life
Smith is active on social media and is represented online under the handle @prestonsmith91. Further verified details about his marital status, children, or residence are not publicly documented in the sources available.
2025 Season Performance
Smith signed with the Washington Commanders on September 17, 2025, returning to the team that drafted him in 2015. The reunion placed him in a familiar defensive scheme and offered a chance to contribute as a rotational edge defender while mentoring younger linemen on the roster.
His prior two seasons had been marked by change, including a position switch from outside linebacker to defensive end in Green Bay in 2024 and a midseason trade to Pittsburgh. Returning to Washington offered stability and a clearer role along the defensive front.
Heading into the rest of the 2025 season, Smith’s outlook depends on his ability to stay healthy and produce as a situational pass rusher. With a long track record of double-digit sack totals in productive years, he remains a player capable of influencing games off the edge.