Philadelphia Eagles standout wide receiver DeVonta Smith could join elite company with a win in Super Bowl LIX vs the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. He'd be immortalized in a club that houses a handful of NFL stars, a club whose members boast a unique accomplishment.
The former Alabama receiver won the Heisman Trophy and National Championship in 2021, and he could become one of just five players all time to win the Heisman, National Championship, and the Super Bowl. Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Reggie Bush, and Charles Woodson are the only other players in history to have accomplished the historic feat.
Though Smith downplayed it when we asked about potentially joining the elite club, legendary cornerback Charles Woodson sat down with Inside the Iggles to discuss the accomplishment along with his prediction for Super Bowl 59.
Charles Woodson discusses DeVonta Smith's potential accomplishment with Inside the Iggles.
Woodson played on both sides of the football for the Michigan Wolverines. He became the first defensive player to win the Heisman in 1997 and followed that up with a National Championship. He played in the NFL for 18 seasons, notching a Hall of Fame career that included one Super Bowl Victory during the 2010-11 season.
After playing football, he began a career in media where he has now served as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday. We caught up with him at FOX Sports Media Day in New Orleans, Woodson spoke glowingly about Smith and the Eagles team ahead of the big game:
"I thought he would have already done it, Woodson said, "They had a chance a couple of years ago so now they have another crack at it."
The only problem that Smith and the Eagles might run into? Their 'arch nemesis' -- the Kansas City Chiefs. This Philadelphia team is primed to interrupt Kansas City's quest for a three-peat. Woodson believes it, too, saying, "I think there's no better chance [for the Eagles] than right now because of how this team is constructed. From top to bottom -- they have the guys that can go out there and get it done."
The Heisman Trophy has its own 'fraternity' and adds new members yearly. This nameless club doesn't add new members very often, and Woodson would be open to adding another member in Smith. "It'd be great to welcome another guy to that very, very small list," he said.
Charles Woodson offers his breakdown of Super Bowl LIX.
A big game for Smith may be in the cards. As Woodson described it, the fourth-year receiver has been held to just four receptions in each of Philadelphia's playoff games. He hasn't eclipsed more than 55 receiving yards in any of the three games.
Smith's quiet postseason run could take a turn on Sunday with a big game. He had seven catches for 100 yards in the prevous Super Bowl against Kansas City, playing a big role on the big stage.
If defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo decides to limit Saquon Barkley and the running game, Philly's number one wide receiver in A.J. Brown and Smith may be due for a massive Super Bowl.
"If you have a guy like AJ Brown that's going to get paid a lot of attention to, then there's opportunities on the other side. You have Saquon Barkley in the backfield, you've got to spend a lot of time trying to stop him. So what does that do? That can create one on ones for your wide receivers. When you have a Heisman Trophy winner, who's a very, very skilled wide receiver with a chance to get one-on-ones, he's due for a big day," Woodson explained.
Charles Woodson's Super Bowl Prediction
When asked for his Super Bowl prediction, Woodson would not commit one way or the other, but affirmed that he was leaning towards selecting the Eagles.
"It's going to come down to the wire. For me, I think I would lean Philly, but it's hard to go against Patrick Mahomes and this Kansas City Chiefs team. They just seem to know how to win. And we've talked all season long about how close the games have been with this team -- guess what they do? They just continue to win. I'll lean towards Philly, but I'm not picking yet," Woodson said on Thursday afternoon.
Add Woodson to the list of Eagles believers as we head into Super Bowl Sunday. If his gut-feeling sticks, he'll be saying 'Hello' to a new member of the exclusive club.