Elizabeth Barry celebrated her 16-year NFL career with husband Alex Smith on Monday by posting an emotional message on Instagram in response to her retirement announcement.
Barry, who has been married to Smith since 2009, said she is “very proud” of her husband, who returned to the league last season after a leg fracture that endangered him in 2018.
Earlier Monday, Smith, who has played for the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and, more recently, the Washington football team, confirmed he would call him a career before the 2021 NFL season. .
In a two-minute video shared on social media, the 36-year-old quarterback said he hoped to spend time with Barry and his three children: sons Hayes and Hudson and daughter Sloane.
“I’m going to take some time to enjoy some of these walks with my wife, and my kids have no idea what will come of them in the garden,” Smith said in the clip.
Smith, the player of the year back in the season, returned to the field in October 2020, two years after breaking his tibia and fibula. During his recovery, Smith had 17 surgeries and nearly lost his leg.
During Smith’s first game under center last fall, Barry watched from the stands, where he felt a series of immense emotions.
“It simply came to our notice then. Harmful. Not knowing what to expect, “he said. according to ABC affiliate Washington, DC. “He has worked hard to get to this point, even to put on a uniform. Proud pride for him. So proud. He has overcome everything that anyone thought he would be able to do and here we are ”.
The first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft, Smith played in 174 games and threw 35,650 yards and 199 touchdowns and 109 interceptions.
Smith had signed a four-year, $ 94 million contract with Washington in March 2018, with professional earnings estimated at $ 189.725 billion, according to Spotrac.