[Kansas City.com] Former defensive end Neil Smith was named this year’s entrant into the Chiefs Hall of Fame by owner Lamar Hunt at the annual 101 banquet Saturday night.

Playing in the sometimes considerable shadow of Derrick Thomas, Smith was a considerable force in his own right during his nine-year Chiefs career that ended in 1996. Smith is not only second in sacks with 86, but he led the league in 1993 with 15. He played five times in the Pro Bowl.

Together with Thomas and others, Smith began in 1989 an era of Chiefs popularity in Kansas City that has yet to end.

The Chiefs thought in early 1997 that Smith was on the decline, so they released him. He proved that to be a mistaken notion by playing three seasons with Denver, where he helped the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles, and one with San Diego.

Today, Smith is part-owner of the Arena Football League’s Kansas City Brigade. He occupies an office at the Brigade’s administrative headquarters in Merriam on Shawnee Mission Parkway.