Rod Smith, the Broncos' all-time leading receiver in nearly every category, has decided to retire.

The Broncos and Smith will hold a 2 p.m. news conference Thursday.

Smith, 38, missed all of last season with a serious hip injury so his retirement has been expected for nearly a year. An undrafted free agent who signed with the Broncos in 1994, when Wade Phillips was the coach, Smith finishes with 849 receptions, 11,389 receiving yards and 68 touchdown receptions.

He was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2005, but a concussion and hip injury curtailed his production in 2006 and was forced to sit out 2007 after he needed extensive surgery to repair, among other problems, a torn labrum.

Following his final season, Smith ranked 11th all-time in receptions.


Sad day for me. Not a Broncos fan, but a Rod Smith fan.