After all, he’s got loads of memories. His favorites include Terrell Davis rushing for 2,008 yards in 1998 and Elway throwing his 300th touchdown pass. He felt like he played a role in both, blocking downfield for Davis and hauling in his fair share of Elway’s darts.

He also has a picture hanging in his basement of himself, Elway and Ed McCaffrey jumping around like kids after clinching a 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers in the 1998 Super Bowl.

“That’s why you play sports — so the 12-year-old comes out in you,” he said. “No one can take those memories away from you.”

Shanahan knew there was something special about Smith shortly after the coach’s arrival in 1995. He was watching film, and this practice squad player kept burning the first-team defense.

“You keep looking and saying, ’Why can’t they cover this guy?”’ Shanahan said. “Then you say, ’Holy cow, I’ve got myself a football player.”’

Smith was promoted from the practice squad that season. His first career catch went for a 43-yard game-winning touchdown as he outjumped Washington’s Darrell Green for the ball as time expired.

It was merely a preview.

“Anytime you are able to get a player like Rod Smith when you start out as a young coach, you really don’t know how lucky you are,” Shanahan said. “I am just so proud to have a guy like this.”

So, should Smith be in the Hall of Fame?

“You’re darn right he should,” Shanahan said.

Broncos assistant coach and good friend Keith Burns supported that argument.

“If it’s numbers they go off of, he’s a shoo-in,” Burns said. “If they’re looking at the person, he’s a shoo-in. So, where does he not qualify to be in the Hall of Fame?”

Smith would love to join Elway and offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman in Canton, Ohio. But it’s out of his control.

“I did everything I could,” he said.

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