Smith, then an Executive Vice President at the Life Insurance Company of Georgia, was the successful bidder for an expansion team, paying a then unprecedented 8.5 million dollars on June 30,1965 for a team based in Atlanta.
Smith, then an executive vice president at the Life Insurance Company of Georgia, was awarded an AFL franchise, but reneged on his agreement when the older National Football League offered him a franchise. He paid a then unprecedented 8.5 million dollars on June 30,1965 for an NFL team based in Atlanta.