JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jackson State standout and Jacksonville Jaguars great Jimmy Smith is headed to the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the Jaguars’ “Pride of the Jaguars” ring of honor, said he was “greatly honored and just overwhelmed” after learning he would be part of the 2026 class of inductees. The call, he said, came from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Doug Williams — a moment that made the honor even more meaningful.
“It was just unbelievable to get that phone call from Doug Williams,” Smith said.
Smith played at Jackson State, an HBCU, before building one of the most productive receiving careers of his era in the NFL. He said the Black College Football Hall of Fame is “the highest acknowledgment” he has received so far, adding that while he’s still waiting on the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this recognition carries special weight.
“I went to Jackson State, which is an HBCU,” Smith said. “We got to have our Hall of Fame, too.”
Already, Smith has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Jackson State Football Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Jaguars’ franchise ring of honor. He said the honors never get old, noting each one carries its own significance.
When shown a photo from his college playing days, Smith said it brought back memories of competing against other HBCU standouts — including Texas Southern, where NFL great Michael Strahan played.
“It was such a treat to play against the likes of guys like Michael Strahan,” Smith said.
Smith also shared optimism about the Jaguars, saying he would grade the team’s season an “A,” crediting first-year head coach Liam Coen for helping turn things around and praising Tony Boselli for reinforcing the organization’s culture.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame will recognize Smith and the 2026 class at the 2026 Allstate Legacy Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 21. The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 6 in Atlanta.