Jerry Smith Redskins TE was gay

Jerry Smith made football history in the 1970s when, as a player for the Washington Redskins, he caught more touchdowns than any other tight end in NFL history. But Smith is probably better known for being a closeted homosexual and succumbing to AIDS in 1986 at only 43 years old.

I am an amateur historian of the AFL/NFL circa 1961 - 1973 which was the pre-VCR era. This time period was the formation of the AFL and the Superbowl before tape recorder ability. Many of the networks have lost the tapes of championship games and much has vanished from history. One player was Jerry Smith.

In the Redskins Dolphins superbowl Smith was open in the endzone with seconds left but Billy Kilmers pass hit the crossbar resulting in a Miami victory. The following year the goal post were moved to the back of the endzone. Washington may have won if not for that