I was a bit surprised to learn over the weekend that the NFL Network documentary show “A Footabll Life” was going to feature former Washington Redskins great, Jerry Smith. Pat of my surprise was that I had not heard of it sooner, but I was also surprised it was being done at all. DC Sports Bog mentioned it yesterday too.

Smith, whose career came before my time, was one of the best tight ends in the NFL during the late 1960s and early 1970s. I hadn’t heard of him until much later when it was revealed in The Post that he was dying of AIDS. Though his sexuality was specifically not mentioned, even at a young age, I caught the subtext.

There are a number of clips up on the NFL Films blog. Might as well start with the trailer. The upshot of the doc — many of his teammates suspected or knew that Smith was gay, but accepted him as a teammate and friend. Here’s the NFL Network description of the episode:

”A Football Life” – Jerry Smith – Almost 50 years ago, a young tight end named Jerry Smith joined the Washington Redskins. After 13 seasons on the team, Smith retired, but not before making two Pro Bowls, one All-Pro team, and playing in the Super Bowl. He set an NFL record with 60 receiving touchdowns, the most ever by a tight end (that record stood for 26 years). Smith was also gay, something that caused him to live a life in constant fear and tension.

I expect there to be more from The Post in the coming days. Long-time editor, George Solomon, was then a writer who broke Smith having AIDS.

Here it is, until it gets taken down again: