Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith almost lost his career to blood clots. Now he’s giving back

Trey Smith's college career came to a frightening halt during his sophomore year at the University of Tennessee, when doctors found multiple blood clots his lungs.
There was a day when Kansas City Chiefs starting guard Trey Smith wondered if he’d ever play football again, let alone make it to the Super Bowl. That’s because Smith suffered from blood clots in his lungs while at the University of Tennessee.

But Smith, listed at 6-foot-6-inches and 321 pounds, will be a vital piece of the Chiefs offensive line protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes in this year’s Super Bowl match against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Growing up in Jackson, Tennessee, Smith was one of the country’s top football prospects in high school. After making the move to Knoxville, Smith played for the Volunteers right away in his freshman season.