Alphonso Smith Jr., former NFL cornerback, dies at 40

Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. has died at age 40. According to reports and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Smith died following a suicide attempt at a housing community in Florida.

Shortly before his death, Smith posted a series of emotional messages on Facebook. In the posts, he expressed severe mental health struggles, stating, “I needed help & did not get it!” He also apologized to his children, family, and friends. Smith made a distressing confession regarding his past, alleging that he had been abused by an older woman during his childhood and suggesting that this trauma influenced his later actions and behavior toward others.

Smith was a standout defensive back at Wake Forest University, where he earned All-American honors and set an ACC record with 21 interceptions. He was inducted into the Wake Forest Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022. His professional career included four seasons in the NFL, playing for the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions.