Alex Smith's blossoming second career picked up big news on Tuesday.
The former No. 1 overall pick for the San Francisco 49ers got a multi-year contract renewal from ESPN.
He'll continue to bring his intelligent quarterback presence to a variety of the network's platforms.
According to a release, Smith will get an expanded presence on Get Up and First Take, along with remaining a part of Super Bowl coverage and Sunday NFL Countdown.
This will be Smith's fifth season on the Sunday morning countdown show.
Smith, of course, lasted longer in the NFL than anyone expected.
He had a horrific compound fracture injury with further complications in 2018, one that looked like it would end his career.
But he returned in 2020 to play for the Washington Football Team.
Smith said in 2020 that he was "very much lucky to be alive." After his initial surgery, a flesh-eating bacteria took hold and caused immense problems. The Washington team physician, Dr. Robin West, was with Smith at the time. According to ESPN, West said: "We're doing the best we can. And right now, our first priority is we're going to save his life. And then we're going to do our best to save his leg. And anything beyond that is a miracle."
The initial injury happened on Nov. 18, 2018. On Nov. 22, 2020, Smith earned his first win in the NFL since Nov. 11, 2018.
His comeback captured the hearts of many.
Now on ESPN, he brings strong discourse to the league's topics of the day, and he'll get to continue doing that going forward with his new contract.
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