Pelluer in the meantime held out, and in mid-October was traded to the Chiefs for a couple of low round draft choices.
Saw action in 5 contests, starting 3 in 1990, including a win over Seattle, when he threw for 205 yards and a TD.
Sprained knee and was out remainder of year.
As Steve DeBerg cemented his role as starter, Pelluer saw sparing playing time.
Pelluer joined the Denver Broncos in 1992 via Plan B, but he would not make the roster.
After a brief break, he’d play in the CFLUSA for the Blue Bombers in 1995, completing 9 of 17 passes for 112 yards and a TD, but was lost to injury after injury for the season in Week 2.
Pelluer signed on with the reborn World League in 1995, playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy and helping the team reach the World Bowl for the first time.
Retired after the 1996 campaign, playing mainly as a backup.
Since retirement has spent time in real estate with a specialization in commercial properties.
Pro Set 1989, #559Score 1989, #90
NOTES:
I always felt like Steve got a bad rap in Dallas, but he did also hold out at a critical time when the Cowboys were rebuilding. Then he got shipped to KC only to get stuck behind DeBerg. I had wanted to get Steve for a while- failing on him twice previously. -I even had his Starting Lineup figure!
Finished with 80 total tackles and 7 sacks over 3 years.
Went undrafted in 2018, and spent time in the camp of the Oakland Raiders.
Joined the AAF in 2019, playing for the San Diego Fleet.
Notched 7.5 tackles and .5 sacks over 8 contests.
Spent the remainder of the year in the CFL with the BC Lions, and then later the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In 2022, signed with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
NOTES:
Pretty happy to get this certified, but with an underwhelming autograph, I couldn’t help but be disappointed that Meffy didn’t spell out his entire name- though I don’t blame him. Later I pulled a second certified autograph of his that was fully spelled out.
After redshirt season, ran for 4,679 yards over next 3 years.
Senior year ran for a school record 2,567 yards and 29 TDs, along with 242 yards on 24 catches.
His 450 carries in his Senior year shattered the previous single season college mark held by Marcus Allen, and his 2,567 yards rushing were third all-time.
Selected at the top of the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Had solid debut rookie season with Detroit rushing for 976 yards and 8 rushing TDs in 12 starts- 1,200 yards from scrimmage.
Ran for 747 yards on 217 carries in 2009, logging a career high 41 receptions for 415 yards in 2009.
Tore ACL near end of season, after 13 starts.
Injury sidelined Smith through early 2010, but the Lions had already moved on to Jahvid Best.
Lions allowed Smith to test free agency in 2011, but when Best was sidelined with second concussion of season, they resigned Kevin.
Smith returned to form with a 140 yard, 2 TD effort, in comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Suffered ankle injury the following week and was not retained at end of season.
Joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL in 2014, but was released after a few days.
Has climbed the college coaching ranks ever since, starting at his Alma Mater UCF in 2015.
Then it was Florida Atlantic in 2018, and Ole Miss, where I got his autograph in 2020.
As of 2023 Kevin is the RB coach at the University of Miami, FL.
Score 2009, #98Panini Prestige 2010, #68
NOTES:
Kevin has a lot of great cards, and hit all my favorite sets from this period. His Score and Donruss cards really hit the mark for me. Kevin’s one of those players where if he didn’t see all that wear and tear on his body I think he would’ve gone on to have a fabulous NFL career- but such is the pro life.
Score 2010, #98
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
598
2346
3.9
17
50
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
123
1082
8.8
5
47
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
