For the first time, Lance truly looked at Alex Smith.
A former first-overall pick, a quarterback, and the highest-paid player on the team—underneath all those labels, Smith had always seemed distant, almost untouchable, his true face obscured by the weight of expectations.
"Alex—" Lance started, intending to offer some words of comfort, but Smith interrupted him.
"You know," Smith murmured, "back then, no one asked for my opinion."
"They just made the decision and then informed me of it. 'Hey, Alex, you've been traded. Thanks for everything.' That was it."
"I had no say. None at all."
In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers used the first overall pick to select Alex Smith, the quarterback from the University of Utah. He spent eight years with the franchise.
His rookie season was rocky—his performance fell short of expectations. But over time, he grew. By 2012, Smith had blossomed into one of the league's most efficient quarterbacks. Maybe not elite, but firmly in the upper tier.
That year, he set career highs in passer rating, passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown passes, and rushing yards.
At one point, he led the entire NFL in completion percentage and passer rating.
Then, in Week 10, in the second quarter, Smith took a sack. A concussion. He was forced to leave the game.
His backup, rookie Colin Kaepernick, stepped in and led the team to victory.
It was supposed to be a minor setback. Two weeks later, Smith cleared concussion protocol—he was medically fit to play again.
But head coach Jim Harbaugh—brother of Ravens coach John Harbaugh—had other plans.
Harbaugh told Smith he didn't want to rush him back. "Take another week off. Let's have Kaepernick start again."
Smith never got his job back.
He hadn't played badly. He had been having his best season yet. Even in practices, he performed well—he even mentored Kaepernick. By all accounts, he was a model leader and teammate.
But this was the NFL.
Harbaugh saw Smith as too safe, too steady, with a limited ceiling. And it wasn't just Harbaugh—that was the general consensus across the league.
In Smith's eight years as the 49ers' starter, they had made the playoffs only once.
Meanwhile, Kaepernick was younger, more dynamic, more explosive—a running quarterback who brought a new energy to the team.
Harbaugh chose the future.
It didn't matter that Smith had done everything right.
At the end of the season, the 49ers informed Smith he was being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.
No discussion. No say in the matter.
Just, "Thanks for your service. Goodbye."
Andy Reid, however, saw Smith's value.
Smith lacked deep-ball ability, but he was one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league—his understanding of strategy, defensive reads, and in-game decision-making made him a coach's dream.
Within two training sessions, Reid named him the Chiefs' starting quarterback.
And he held that job for five years.
In 2012, Kaepernick led them all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the infamous "Harbaugh Bowl."
In 2013, he took them to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
Since 2014, the 49ers missed the playoffs four straight years.
In early 2015, Harbaugh was fired and returned to college coaching.
By 2016, Kaepernick's career began unraveling—injuries, off-field controversies, and ultimately, he was cut by the 49ers.
To this day, he hasn't played another NFL snap.
But that's the reality of the NFL.
Lance turned back to Smith.
"I was angry," Smith admitted. "I was heartbroken."
"Trust me, I dreamed of revenge. If I told you I never fantasized about leading the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win over the 49ers, I'd be lying."
Smith looked over at Lance, his smile tinged with self-mockery.
"Pretty childish, huh?"
Lance's lips curled into a smirk as he shook his head. "No. It just means you're human, not a saint."
Smith laughed. A genuine laugh. Then he let out a deep sigh.
"But now… I'm starting to think Harbaugh was right. Maybe I was never a Super Bowl quarterback. Not then. Not now. Maybe never."
Lance frowned. "Alex—"
Smith raised a hand to stop him.
"No need to comfort me," Smith said lightly.
"I've known for a while now."
"The Chiefs drafting Patrick? That was the clearest sign in the world. I might not be an elite quarterback, but I'm not stupid. That message was loud and clear."
"I'm thirty-three. I've been in the league over a decade. My ceiling is set. No matter how much Coach Reid values me, he has to face reality."
"Because this is the NFL. We're all just pieces on a chessboard. Unless your name is Brady or Manning, you don't get a say in how the game is played."
"Unfortunately, I'm not Brady."
Then he looked directly at Lance, his smile both calm and sorrowful.
"Maybe this is my last season in Kansas City."
Lance didn't respond right away.
Smith was smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Lance asked, "Then why are you still mentoring Patrick?"
Smith smirked. "I thought you and Patrick were friends?"
Lance nodded. "We are. But you're not. You're his competitor."
This entire season, Smith had been personally mentoring Mahomes, teaching him everything he knew—
Not just playbooks. Experience. Decision-making. Leadership.
Lance knew better than anyone just how much Smith had given Mahomes.
Smith lifted his head toward the night sky.
"I just wanted to do things the right way."
"You can't stop young talent from rising. Even if it's not Kaepernick, not Mahomes—someone else will always come along. You can't stop it. You can't fight it."
"So, why not face them head-on? If I'm good enough, I'll win. If I'm not… then I wasn't meant to."
"I believed in fair competition."
"But clearly, I overestimated myself. My friends say I'm an idiot for trying to be honorable in a cutthroat business."
"They say I just handed Patrick my own job."
Smith chuckled. "But honestly? I just wanted to have no regrets."
"I was never a prodigy. Never a chosen one."
"I don't know if I'll ever win a Super Bowl, but when I retire, I want to look back with a clear conscience."
Smith turned to Lance, his expression carrying a hint of self-doubt.
Lance shook his head, his voice steady and firm.
"It's easy to go with the flow. It's much harder to stay true to yourself."
"That's not naivety."
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