Tanzel Smart
Current teamTennessee Titans
PositionAssistant defensive line coach
Career number92, 79
Birth dateNovember 6, 1994 (age 31)
Birth placeBaton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lbs295
High schoolScotlandville Magnet
CollegeTulane (2013–2016)
Draftyear2017
Draftround6
Draftpick189
Pastteams
Pastcoaching
Highlights
Statlabel 1Total tackles
Statvalue 131
Statlabel 2Sacks
Statlabel 3Pass deflections
Statvalue 31
Statlabel 4Forced fumbles
Statlabel 5Interceptions
PfrSmarTa00

Tanzel Eric Smart Jr. (born November 6, 1994) is an American professional football coach and former defensive tackle who is an assistant defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave, and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.[1] He also played for the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets.

College career

Smart attended and played college football for Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Playing career

Los Angeles Rams

Smart was selected in the sixth round with the 189th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 NFL draft.[2]

On May 15, 2020, Smart was released by the Rams.[3]

Buffalo Bills

On August 16, 2020, Smart signed with the Buffalo Bills.[4] He was waived by Buffalo on September 5.[5]

Cleveland Browns

On September 11, 2020, Smart was signed to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns.[6] He was released by the Browns on September 22.[7]

New York Jets

On October 14, 2020, Smart was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad.[8] He was elevated to the active roster on November 9 and December 19 for the team's weeks 9 and 15 games against the New England Patriots and Rams, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[9][10] He was promoted to the active roster on January 2, 2021.[11]

On August 31, 2021, Smart was waived by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 10, 2022.[14]

On August 30, 2022, Smart was waived by the Jets and signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[17]

On August 29, 2023, Smart was released by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad.[18][19] On October 31, Smart was signed to the Jets' active roster.[20] He was waived on November 13, and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[21][22] Smart was signed to the active roster on November 18, but released two days later and re-signed back with the practice squad.[23] He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Jets on January 9, 2024.[24]

Smart was released by the Jets on August 27, 2024.[25]

Coaching career

On February 14, 2025, Smart was announced as a defensive quality control assistant on Brian Schottenheimer's new Dallas Cowboys coaching staff.[26]

References

  1. ^ Guillory, William (April 30, 2017). "Tulane's Tanzel Smart chosen by the L.A. Rams in the 6th round of the 2017 NFL Draft". nola.com. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Webb, Josh (April 29, 2017). "2017 NFL Draft Results: Los Angeles Rams Select Tulane DT Tanzel Smart With 189th Pick". TurfShowTimes.com. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Jackson, Stu (2020-05-15). "Rams re-sign Morgan Fox, release Tanzel Smart". TheRams.com. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
  4. ^ Glab, Maddy (August 16, 2020). "Bills sign DTs Justin Zimmer and Tanzel Smart". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  5. ^ Brown, Chris (September 5, 2020). "Bills announce these moves to get to the 53-man roster limit". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  6. ^ "Browns sign DTs Joey Ivie and Tanzel Smart to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Browns sign K Matthew McCrane, DE Jalen Jelks to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 22, 2020.
  8. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 14, 2020). "Jets Designate WR Denzel Mims, 2 Others to Return to Practice". NewYorkJets.com
  9. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 9, 2020). "Jets Activate CB Bryce Hall, Place TE Trevon Wesco on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (December 19, 2020). "Jets Activate K Sam Ficken from Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  11. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (January 2, 2021). "Jets Activate RG Greg Van Roten from Injured Reserve, Waive K Sam Ficken". New York Jets Official Website. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  12. ^ Lange, Randy & Greenberg, Ethan (August 31, 2021). "Jets Remove 27 Players from Roster to Reach 53-Man Limit". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "Jets Sign 13 to the Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (January 10, 2022). "Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". NewYorkJets.com
  15. ^ Lange, Randy & Greenberg, Ethan (August 30, 2022). "Final Cuts: Jets Move 27 Players to Trim Roster to NFL's 53-Man Limit". NewYorkJets.com
  16. ^ Lange, Randy (August 31, 2022). "Jets Sign 13 Players to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com
  17. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (January 10, 2023). "Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Reserve/Future Contract". NewYorkJets.com
  18. ^ Lange, Randy & Greenberg, Ethan (August 29, 2023). "Final Cuts: Jets Move 31 More to Get Their Roster to 53 Players". NewYorkJets.com
  19. ^ Lange, Randy (August 30, 2023). "Jets Add 10 Players from Their Preseason Roster to the Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com
  20. ^ Alper, Josh. "Jets sign Tanzel Smart, Dennis Kelly to active roster; place three on injured reserve". NBC Sports. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  21. ^ Bouda, Nate (2023-11-13). "Jets Waive DT Tanzel Smart, Claim OT Austin Deculus". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  22. ^ Greenberg, Ethan. "Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Practice Squad, Release DB Craig James". newyorkjets.com. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  23. ^ Greenberg, Ethan. "Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Active Roster". newyorkjets.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  24. ^ Greenberg, Ethan. "Jets Sign FB Nick Bawden, DL Tanzel Smart to Reserve/Future Contracts". newyorkjets.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  25. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (August 27, 2024). "Final Cuts | Jets Move 37 to Get Their Roster to 53 Players". NewYorkJets.com
  26. ^ Livengood, Paul (February 14, 2025). "Dallas Cowboys announce full coaching staff for the 2025 season". KIII-TV. Retrieved February 15, 2025.