Bruce Smith to have number retired during Buffalo Bills’ home opener vs. Jets
![Bruce Smith is introduced by the Buffalo Bills as the...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMjQyYjA2MGEtMDRkNy00%3AMGEtMDRkNy00YTIwZDIy%2Fbruce-smith-cropped.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Bruce Smith is introduced by the Buffalo Bills as the No. 1 overall pick in 1985. Credit: AP / Dave Pickoff
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills will retire Bruce Smith’s No. 78 at the home opener this fall.
The team announced Wednesday that the Hall of Fame defensive end be honored with a jersey retirement ceremony to take place in during halftime of the Bills’ prime-time game against the Jets on Sept. 15.
Smith holds the NFL record with 200 career sacks, with 171 of them coming during his 15 seasons in Buffalo. He was the NFL’s defensive player of the year in 1990 and ‘96. He was a member of the team that had four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the early 90s.
Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly’s No. 12 is the only other jersey retired by the Bills.
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