Ex-Lions Star Alphonso Smith Jr. Dies at 40 Hours After Sharing Troubling Social Media Post
EssentiallySports • • sports
Key Points:
- Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr., who played for the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions, died by suicide at age 40 in Florida, hours after posting a troubling message on social media.
- Smith had a notable college career at Wake Forest, where he earned All-American honors and set an Atlantic Coast Conference record with 21 career interceptions.
- His NFL career spanned four seasons, during which he appeared in 42 games, recorded 87 tackles, and intercepted eight passes before being waived by the Lions in 2012.
- In his final social media post, Smith alluded to long-standing personal struggles and abuse he suffered as a child, expressing deep remorse and saying, "I am SORRY! THIS IS IT!"
- Smith's death highlights ongoing mental health challenges within the NFL community, which has seen a rise in suicides among former players, prompting the league to maintain crisis support services like the NFL Life Line.
