Legend and Legacy: Bruce Smith Revisits His Virginia Tech Roots with Emotional Confession One Year After First Citizen Award
For Bruce Smith, football greatness began in Blacksburg, Virginia—but legacy goes far beyond sacks and accolades. One year after being honored with the prestigious First Citizen Award in Virginia, the NFL’s all-time sack leader and Buffalo Bills legend returned to his roots with a heartfelt confession about his time at Virginia Tech—one that revealed the emotional depth behind his Hall of Fame journey.
During a recent alumni event held on campus, Smith took the stage to reflect not only on his storied career but on the internal struggles and growth that marked his early years as a Hokie. In a moment that stunned the crowd into silence, Smith admitted that for much of his college career, he wrestled with fear—fear of failure, fear of not living up to expectations, and even fear of embracing his full potential.
“I wasn’t always the confident man you saw on Sundays in the NFL,” Smith told a packed audience at Lane Stadium’s West Club. “At Virginia Tech, I had to learn how to believe in myself. There were nights I didn’t sleep, days I thought I wouldn’t make it. But this school, this community—this place—helped shape the man I became.”
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from one of the fiercest pass rushers the game has ever known. And it served as a powerful bookend to the recognition he received last year, when Smith was named the 2024 First Citizen of Norfolk, an award honoring community leadership, service, and civic integrity.
Though widely celebrated for his impact on the gridiron—where he amassed 200 career sacks and became a cornerstone of the Bills’ Super Bowl-era defense—Smith has long used his platform to advocate for youth mentorship, education, and social equity across Virginia. That off-the-field commitment made his First Citizen recognition especially meaningful.
But it’s his roots at Virginia Tech that continue to anchor his journey.
“I used to walk around campus unsure of who I was,” Smith said. “But over time, through hard work, great coaching, and support from my teammates, I found something inside myself that I didn’t know was there. Virginia Tech gave me the foundation for everything that followed.”
Smith also credited late Hokies coach Bill Dooley, who recruited him in the early 1980s, with instilling the discipline and mental toughness that would later define his NFL career. “Coach Dooley didn’t just coach football. He coached life,” Smith said, his voice cracking with emotion.
As the Hokie faithful in attendance rose for a standing ovation, it was clear the moment had struck a deep chord. Smith’s words weren’t just a reflection—they were a message to future generations of athletes and students alike: greatness begins with self-discovery, and sometimes, the most important victories happen long before the scoreboard lights up.
In returning to Blacksburg, Bruce Smith didn’t just celebrate his past—he reconnected with it. And in doing so, he reminded everyone listening that legacy is not just built on what you achieve, but on who you become.
