Florida International Professional Athletes

FIU in the NFL | Week of Aug. 30–Sept. 5, 2026

Florida International's most prominent NFL alumni story this week comes out of Green Bay, where tight end Jonnu Smith has signed a one-year deal with the Packers — a reunion that carries real weight on both sides.

Smith and head coach Matt LaFleur have prior history together, and according to Smith, the familiarity with LaFleur was far from the only draw. After signing, Smith made clear he had something to prove in Green Bay — specifically, a pointed message around his belief in quarterback Jordan Love. The FIU product didn't frame this as a soft landing or a reclamation deal; he framed it as a deliberate choice rooted in where he thinks the Packers are headed.

LaFleur, for his part, isn't coddling his new additions. The Packers coach offered a blunt metaphor when addressing Smith and newly acquired running back Kaleb Johnson — Green Bay traded for Johnson this past weekend amid concerns over Josh Jacobs' availability — signaling that neither player arrives with a guaranteed role. They're expected to earn it. It's the kind of tough-love framing that suggests LaFleur sees real upside in both players while making no promises.

For Smith, the situation sets up well on paper. Green Bay had a genuine need at tight end entering the 2026 campaign, and with Love continuing to develop as the franchise quarterback, a proven pass-catcher with chemistry built on an existing coaching relationship is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside addition that can quietly reshape an offense. Smith knows the system. The question is execution.

The Rest of the FIU Roster

Beyond Smith's headline move, three other FIU alumni are holding NFL roster spots heading into the 2026 season:

• Maurice Alexander (LB, Chicago Bears)
• Teair Tart (DT, Los Angeles Chargers)
• Stantley Thomas-Oliver (CB, Detroit Lions)

No notable transactions or performances involving Alexander, Tart, or Thomas-Oliver were reported during this period, but their continued presence on competitive rosters — including a Lions squad that has been one of the NFC's stronger teams in recent years — reflects the quiet, steady pipeline FIU has built into the league.

Smith's signing is the story of the week, though. A tight end who knows what LaFleur wants, playing alongside a quarterback on the rise, on a one-year deal with everything to prove — that's a recipe for a big season. Panthers, Falcons, and the rest of the NFC North have been warned.

For a tight end who has made a career out of reinventing himself, Jonnu Smith has found yet another address.

The Florida International product agreed to a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers this week after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers, making it five teams in five seasons for the veteran pass-catcher. To clear roster space, Green Bay waived defensive back Travion Fluellen — a move that underscores just how quickly the organization moved to get Smith signed and into the building.

Smith's NFL journey has been nothing short of peripatetic. A former second-round pick who flashed genuine upside early in his career with the Tennessee Titans, he has since cycled through the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, and Steelers before landing in Green Bay. Each stop has come with fresh expectations and, to varying degrees, fresh frustrations — but Smith has remained a viable weapon in NFL offenses, a combination of size, athleticism, and route-running that keeps teams calling.

At Green Bay, Smith steps into an intriguing situation. The Packers have been building around a young core under quarterback Jordan Love, and a seasoned tight end who has lined up in multiple offensive systems brings real schematic value. Whether Smith carves out a featured role or serves as a reliable veteran complement, his ability to get on the field in multiple alignments gives the offense another dimension.

For FIU fans, Smith remains the program's most prominent pro product — a tangible example of what the Panthers' program can produce at the highest level. While Maurice Alexander (Bears), Teair Tart (Chargers), and Stantley Thomas-Oliver (Lions) all hold roster spots across the league, it's Smith who continues to command the biggest headlines, moving through the NFL ecosystem with the kind of durability and adaptability that extends careers.

Five teams in five seasons is a reality check on the margins of the NFL, but it's also a testament to staying in the league at all. Smith suits up in green and gold with something to prove — and at this stage of his career, that's exactly the kind of chip that can make a one-year deal look like a bargain.