Justin Smith is getting back into football.
Smith, a former Jefferson City Jay and Missouri Tiger standout who played 14 seasons in the NFL, was announced as an assistant coach for the Rock Bridge Bruins on the program’s Twitter account Saturday night.
Smith will coach defensive ends for the Bruins under new head coach Matt Perkins, who came to Rock Bridge from West Plains in the offseason.
Smith currently lives in Columbia and has a son who will be attending Rock Bridge in the future.
Smith was an all-state defensive lineman for Jefferson City. At Missouri, he was an All-American and a two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection who totaled 22.5 sacks in his three seasons with the Tigers.
Smith was the fourth overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Draft. He played for the Bengals and the 49ers in the NFL.