Former San Diego Chargers general manager AJ Smith, who oversaw one of the most successful eras in franchise history, died Sunday at age 75.
His son and Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith announced his death in a statement with the Falcons. According to the statement, Smith died after a seven-year battle with prostate cancer.
The Chargers released a statement from team owner Dean Spanos shortly after the announcement of Smith’s death.
“Beyond a tough, objective and no-nonsense personality synonymous with a true football player, there was AJ’s softer side, which included a tremendous love for his family, the NFL and the Chargers,” Spanos said, according to the release.
“AJ, the architect of one of the most important chapters in franchise history, made everyone around him better with a singular focus and intensity that elevated our organization.”
After two years as assistant general manager under John Butler, Smith was the Chargers’ general manager from 2003 to 2012, a period in which they went 95-65 and made the playoffs five times. He is best known for overseeing the franchise’s transition from Drew Brees to Philip Rivers, an era that produced one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses.
Smith took over a team in 2003 that included Brees and Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson that went 4-12 in his first season as general manager. One of his first major transactions was signing projected Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent. The last place finish in 2003 secured the number one pick in the 2004 draft.
Eli-Manning-Philip Rivers Trade
The Chargers used that pick to select Eli Manning, then traded Manning for Rivers, whom the Giants had selected with the No. 4 pick. Manning had he repeatedly told the Chargers that I wouldn’t play for them.
The Chargers received a package of draft picks in return that included New York’s first-round pick in the 2005 draft. They used that pick to select linebacker Shawne Merriman, who won the Rookie of the Year award and made three Pro Bowls. Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants.
The trade left the Chargers with two viable options at quarterback in Brees and Rivers. Under Smith’s direction, the Chargers ultimately opted for Rivers. Brees suffered a shoulder injury late in the 2005 season that left his future as an NFL quarterback in jeopardy.
Rivers over Brees
The Chargers decided to let Brees enter free agency after his injury and installed Rivers as their starter in 2006. Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints. He later recovered from his injury and led the Saints to a Super Bowl championship after the 2009 season. He made 13 Pro Bowls in one Hall of Fame career.
Rivers made the first of his eight Pro Bowls in his first season as San Diego’s starter and led the Chargers to AFC West championships in four consecutive seasons from 2006 to 2009. The 2006 Chargers produced the league’s best record with 14-2.
Despite regular season success, the Chargers failed to advance to the Super Bowl. They made it all the way to the AFC championship after the 2007 season, where they lost to the New England Patriots. The 2006 and 2009 teams that won 14 and 13 games, respectively, each lost in the divisional round of the playoffs after securing a first-round bye.
The Chargers fired Smith and head coach Norv Turner after a 7-9 finish in 2012 that caused the team to miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Smith then spent two seasons as a consultant and senior executive for Washington from 20013 to 2014 before retiring in 2015 at age 66.
His son Kyle was a scout at Washington during his two seasons with the team. Kyle eventually rose to vice president of player personnel in Washington and was named assistant general manager of the Falcons in 2023.
Smith’s 98 wins, including playoffs, are the most by a general manager in Chargers history. Smith is survived by Kyle, his wife Susan and his daughter Andrea.