Former Chargers general manager AJ Smith has died at age 75.
Smith’s son, Kyle, who is the Falcons’ assistant GM, and the rest of his family announced the news on Sunday afternoon. Smith has battled prostate cancer for the past seven years.
Smith served as the Chargers’ general manager from 2003 to 2012 and brought players such as Shawne Merriman, Vincent Jackson and Eric Weddle to the franchise. He also selected Eli Manning first overall in 2004, despite Manning saying he would not play for the team and then traded his rights to the Giants for the rights to Philip Rivers and other picks, including the one used to select Merriman in the first round.
Before joining the Chargers as an assistant GM in 2001, Smith worked as a scout for several teams and spent 15 years working for the Bills. Smith worked for Washington as a consultant after parting ways with the Chargers.
