Dominate the Super Bowl

This should have been the first time Li Wei had a direct look at Smith.

As both the first overall draft pick and the quarterback with the highest annual salary on the team, the aura surrounding Smith seemed almost blinding, naturally making it difficult to clearly see his face and eyes.

Until now.

"Alex," Li Wei tried to start, attempting to offer solace, but he was interrupted by Smith.

"Do you know, back then, no one asked for my opinion."

"They just made decisions and then informed me of a final decision, 'Hey, Alex, you've been traded. Thanks for your contribution to the team.' That was it."

"I had no say in the matter. Not at all."
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In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers had chosen Smith, a quarterback from the University of Utah, with the first overall pick, and he had stayed in San Francisco for eight seasons.

Despite a slow start in his rookie season, which was less than satisfactory, he showed pleasing growth; by the 2012 season, Smith had transformed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league — not elite, but certainly in the first tier.

In the 2012 season, Smith's quarterback rating, passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown passes, and rushing yards all reached new career highs.

Among these, his completion percentage and quarterback rating temporarily led the entire league.

During week ten of the regular season, Smith suffered a sack which resulted in a concussion, forcing him off the field; Kaepernick, a rookie quarterback, stepped in as his replacement and led the San Francisco 49ers to victory.

This concussion was just a minor accident; merely two weeks later, Smith passed the concussion protocol, was confirmed to be unharmed, and was allowed back on the field.

However, the team's head coach, Jim Harbaugh — older brother of Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh — expressed that he did not want Smith to rush back and suggested that Smith should rest for another week while Kaepernick continued as the starting quarterback.

Afterward, Kaepernick never stepped down from the starting quarterback position.

Smith lost his job.

Smith hadn't made any mistakes. His performance was exceptional, not only in games but also in practice. He mentored Kaepernick, unquestionably serving as both a model and a leader.

But the Professional League does not believe in tears.

Harbaugh believed that Smith was too cautious, lacking edge, and had limited potential. This was not just his own view; it was the same evaluation shared by the entire league regarding Smith's eight-year performance with the San Francisco 49ers, where under his leadership, the 49ers had only advanced to the playoffs once.

In contrast, Kaepernick was younger, more dynamic, and more versatile. This mobile quarterback brought energy to the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh chose the future, regardless of Smith's impeccable season, his best yet. Harbaugh still made a bold decision.

And then, it happened.

After the season ended, the San Francisco 49ers informed Smith he had been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Coach Reed held Smith in high regard; although Smith lacked the ability for long passes, he was undoubtedly a cerebral quarterback, first in the league for his tactical understanding, reading of defences, and analytical skills — a true gem.

So, after Smith joined the Kansas City Chiefs, just two sessions into training, Reed decisively confirmed Smith as the starting quarterback.

And he has remained there ever since.

Under Reed's coaching, Smith performed excellently, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs three times in four years, except for the 2014 season.

As for the San Francisco 49ers —

In the 2012 season, under Kaepernick's leadership, they charged into the Super Bowl, facing the Baltimore Ravens in the rare "Harbaugh Bowl" between the Harbaugh brothers, but the San Francisco 49ers unfortunately lost. In the 2013 season, Kaepernick again led the San Francisco 49ers to the National Conference finals and lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

And then... there was no more after that.

From the 2014 season onward, the San Francisco 49ers missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons.

At the beginning of 2015, Harbaugh lost his job as head coach and went to coach in the NCAA. After the 2016 season, Kaepernick struggled with injuries two seasons in a row and was involved in a series of off-field controversies, eventually being cut by the San Francisco 49ers and, to date, has not found a job.

However, such is the Professional League.

The gaze returned to Smith.

"I've been angry and sad."

"Believe me, I've dreamed of revenge. If I said I never imagined leading the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl and then defeating the San Francisco 49ers to win the championship, that would be a hundred percent lie," he admitted.

Smith looked at Li Wei, showing a self-deprecating smile.

"It's childish, isn't it?"

Li Wei's lips also curled up slightly, shaking his head gently, "No, it proves that you are flesh and blood like us, not a saint."

"Haha," Smith laughed out loud, then took a long breath, his smile tinged with bitterness, "but now, I've started to think that maybe Coach Harbaugh was right, maybe I'm not the answer for the Super Bowl, not before, not now, and probably not in the future."

Li Wei was taken aback, "Alex..."

Smith smiled and waved his hand to stop Li Wei, "Don't comfort me. "

"Actually, I realized this a long time ago. The team's decision to draft Patrick was clear enough, although I'm not a top-tier quarterback, such a signal couldn't be missed."

"I'm already thirty-three, over a decade into the League, and it's clear what my ceiling is. Even if Coach Reed values me highly, he has to face the reality."

"After all, this is a professional league; at the end of the day, we are all just pawns, unless you can become a Brady or a Manning to gain a bit of sway."

"Sadly, I am not."

Turning his head, Smith looked at Li Wei, his smile blossoming, "Maybe, this is my last season in Kansas."

It was a smile, yet profoundly sad.

Li Wei said, "Then why are you still teaching Patrick so wholeheartedly?"

Smith said, "I thought you and Patrick were friends?"

Li Wei nodded, "Yes, I am, but you're not, you are competitors."

All season, Smith had been teaching Mahomes hands-on, sharing everything he knew without holding back—

Answers ready for every question.

Not just the playbook, but also game experiences.

As Mahomes's good friend, Li Wei knew this all too well.

Smith looked up at the starry sky, "I just want to be upright and proper."

"The growth of young people isn't something I can stop. Even if it's not Colin Kaepernick or Patrick Mahomes, there will still be other competitors joining the team; even if it's not me, they can still grow in their own ways. Rather than stopping their growth, I'd rather face them squarely and resolve the battle."

"I believe I can come out on top in a fair competition."

"But clearly, I overestimated myself. Ha-ha, my friends say I'm foolish, advocating for fair competition in professional games is no different from lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot."

"Actually, I just hope I can be true to myself."

"I'm not a genius, never have been. I don't know if I can win a championship, but I hope, when I retire, at least I can be true to my own conscience."

"Is that too naive?"

Smith turned his head to look at Li Wei, his expression revealing a touch of self-mocking bitterness.

Li Wei shook his head gently, his expression solemn, "No."

"Going with the flow is always easy, maintaining one's principles is the hardest. This isn't naivety; it's integrity."