BREAKING NEWS: Chiefs Legend Alex Smith Inks $13.5M Netflix Deal for Series Celebrating Grit, Resilience and Kansas City Legacy

In a groundbreaking move that merges sports, emotion, and cinematic storytelling, former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has signed a $13.5 million agreement with Netflix for a highly anticipated seven-episode docuseries chronicling his remarkable journey in the NFL, with a powerful focus on his unforgettable years in Kansas City. The announcement has sent waves of excitement and emotion through Chiefs Kingdom and beyond, as fans prepare to relive one of the most inspiring careers in professional sports.

Titled “Eleven: The Alex Smith Story,” the series promises to delve far deeper than stats and touchdowns. It aims to capture the true heart and grit of a man whose perseverance turned him from a doubted draft pick into a beloved leader and mentor. This is not just another sports documentary — it’s a tribute, a thank-you, and a reminder of what resilience truly means.

Smith’s career with the Kansas City Chiefs, which spanned from 2013 to 2017, was nothing short of transformative — not just for himself, but for the franchise. After struggling to find his footing with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was often labeled a bust following his first overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, Smith found new life in Kansas City under then-new head coach Andy Reid. His arrival helped shift the culture of a team that had been mired in inconsistency and disappointment.

In his first season with the Chiefs, Smith led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth, sparking hope in a city that had long craved relevance and stability at the quarterback position. Over his five seasons in Kansas City, he amassed 50 wins, threw for more than 17,000 yards, and helped guide the team to four playoff appearances. But it was never just about the numbers — Smith became the cornerstone of a rebuilding era, the calming presence in the huddle, and most importantly, the bridge that led the Chiefs to their eventual dynasty.

The Netflix series will reportedly feature never-before-seen footage, interviews with current and former teammates, coaches, and family members, and intimate behind-the-scenes glimpses into pivotal moments of Smith’s tenure in Kansas City. The project is being executive produced by NFL Films in collaboration with Smith himself and Netflix Studios, with production already underway and a release date targeted for spring 2026.

What makes Smith’s story even more extraordinary is what happened after he left Kansas City. Traded to the Washington Football Team in 2018 to make way for rising star Patrick Mahomes, Smith’s career took a life-altering turn when he suffered a catastrophic leg injury later that season. The injury — a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula — became infected and nearly cost him his life, let alone his football career. After 17 surgeries and over a year of grueling rehabilitation, Smith made an unprecedented comeback in 2020, returning to the NFL field against all odds.

Although this next chapter unfolded outside of Kansas City, it’s one that only further solidified Smith’s place in the hearts of Chiefs fans. His perseverance embodied everything the team had come to stand for — toughness, unity, and an unwillingness to give up, no matter the circumstances. Chiefs fans had already admired him as their leader. After the injury and comeback, they revered him as a warrior.

Netflix executives have described the series as “one of the most emotionally charged and inspirational sports stories ever told,” with special emphasis on the Kansas City years, where Smith redefined both his career and his identity as a player and person.

“Alex Smith represents the best of football — not just because of what he accomplished on the field, but because of the way he carried himself through adversity,” said Jason Stein, Netflix’s Head of Sports Documentaries. “This isn’t just a quarterback story. It’s a human story. It’s about second chances, quiet leadership, and the ability to rise when everything around you crumbles. And Kansas City is where that transformation truly took place.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who will appear prominently in the series, spoke glowingly about Smith and the role he played in the team’s evolution. “We don’t become the Kansas City Chiefs that everyone knows today without Alex Smith,” Reid said. “He laid the foundation, mentored Patrick [Mahomes], and gave us a model of professionalism that our locker room needed. Every player that’s come through here owes something to what Alex built.”

Patrick Mahomes, now a two-time Super Bowl MVP and the face of the league, has often credited Smith for his early development. In a recent interview, Mahomes said, “Alex didn’t have to do what he did. He welcomed me, taught me, and showed me how to prepare like a professional. Without him, I’m not the player I am today.”

The documentary is expected to explore this mentorship extensively, offering fans new insight into one of the most respectful and productive quarterback transitions in NFL history. It was a rare instance of two elite competitors coexisting — and flourishing — for the benefit of the team.

Also featured will be the 2017 season, arguably Smith’s finest as a Chief, when he led the league in passer rating and threw 26 touchdowns against just five interceptions. That year, Kansas City fans saw a more aggressive version of Smith, a player who silenced critics and showed he could push the ball downfield just as well as anyone in the league. It was a poetic crescendo before his departure, and a reminder that while Mahomes may have raised the ceiling, Smith built the floor.

But the emotional crux of the series will likely revolve around Smith’s battle to walk again, let alone play. Through raw video diaries, family conversations, and heart-wrenching images from the hospital and recovery room, “Eleven” will attempt to capture the sheer willpower required to endure what he did — and to return, one last time, as a starting quarterback.

Smith has remained close to the game since retiring in 2021, working as an NFL analyst and advocating for adaptive athletics and injured veterans. The Netflix project, however, marks his first major creative endeavor since leaving the field.

“I’ve told pieces of my story before,” Smith said in a statement, “but never like this. Kansas City was more than a stop in my career — it was home. It changed my life, and I hope this series shows just how much it meant to me. I’m proud of what we built there, and I’m forever grateful to the fans who stuck with me.”

Already, reaction from Chiefs fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media erupted following the announcement, with many expressing tearful excitement and eagerness to see their former quarterback honored on such a grand stage. Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt echoed that sentiment in a statement congratulating Smith on the deal.

“Alex Smith will always be a Chief,” Hunt said. “His leadership, courage, and character elevated our franchise in every way. This series will remind the world what we in Kansas City already know — that Alex is one of the greatest examples of perseverance and grace that the game has ever seen.”

While Netflix has had prior success with sports-themed content — including “Quarterback,” which also featured Patrick Mahomes — this project stands to be one of its most impactful. It’s personal. It’s inspiring. And most importantly, it’s real.

With production already underway and buzz building at a rapid pace, “Eleven: The Alex Smith Story” has the potential to become a landmark sports documentary — a seven-part tribute to a man who defied odds, embraced humility, and helped shape the future of a franchise. Kansas City fans will soon get to relive the highs, the heartbreaks, and the ultimate triumph of a player whose story is as unforgettable as his legacy.

And in a world hungry for authenticity, Alex Smith’s story is ready to inspire once more — this time, on the world’s biggest streaming stage.