Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr has died at the age of 40. Shortly before his death was confirmed, he shared a distressing message on social media in which he apologised to friends and family and expressed deep personal regret. Given the sensitive and deeply personal nature of that message, we're not reproducing its contents here.
His NFL career
A Florida native, Smith earned All-American honours in his final year at Wake Forest University before being drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 2009. He played one season in Denver before being traded to the Detroit Lions in September 2010, where his first season is remembered as the standout of his career, recording five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, along with 39 tackles.
Over four NFL seasons, Smith appeared in 42 games, finishing with 88 tackles and eight interceptions. He was inducted into Wake Forest's athletic hall of fame in 2022.
Life after football
After leaving the NFL, Smith briefly worked as a high school football coach before largely stepping away from public life. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was working as director of marketing at South Florida Family Physician at the time of his death. He had returned to posting on social media earlier this year, where he described himself in his bio as a professional by day and a comic by night, asking followers not to judge him by his online content.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text MHA to 741741 to reach Crisis Text Line.
