Drafted as the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft from Utah, Steve Smith Sr. came to Charlotte marked by a strong motivation. Standing 5 feet 9 inches, he frequently encountered skepticism about his stature, which he turned into a fierce, competitive game approach. Throughout 13 seasons with the Panthers, Smith evolved from a remarkable special teams contributor to the franchise's all-time leading offensive star.

Smith displayed a rare level of intensity for a receiver. He used his quickness off the line to beat press coverage and relied on his frame to shield larger defenders. In the air, he had exceptional timing and consistently caught contested passes over taller opponents. After catching the ball, he ran with the agility of a running back, breaking tackles and resisting tackles from defenders in open space.

Smith demonstrated his exceptional talent right from his rookie year in 2001, earning First-Team All-Pro honors as a return specialist. He made history as the first NFL player to score a touchdown on both a kickoff and a punt in his debut month. After shifting to a full-time receiver role, he achieved his first 1,000-yard season in 2003 with 88 catches for 1,110 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance was crucial in Carolina's journey to Super Bowl XXXVIII, especially with his memorable 69-yard walk-off touchdown in double overtime against the St. Louis Rams during the Divisional Round.

In 2004, adversity hit when a broken leg in Week 1 sidelined him for the rest of the season. His 2005 response stands out as one of the greatest wide receiver seasons in modern football. He achieved the NFL's wide receiver Triple Crown, leading the league in receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563), and touchdowns (12). That year, he received AP Comeback Player of the Year, was named a First-Team All-Pro, and made the Pro Bowl, and was most memorable for finishing with a legendary 218-yard, two-touchdown game against Chicago in the postseason.

Smith remained a top-tier pass-catcher for the rest of his tenure in Charlotte, earning three additional Pro Bowl invitations in 2006, 2008, and 2011. During his 2011 campaign, he teamed with rookie quarterback Cam Newton to record 1,394 receiving yards on 79 catches.

Before spending his final three NFL seasons in Baltimore, Smith completed a 13-year run in Carolina, where he was the team's undisputed all-time leader in receptions (836), receiving yards (12,197), receiving touchdowns (67), and all-purpose yards (16,614). The organization enshrined him in the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor in 2019.