Alphonso Smith Jr., a former NFL cornerback who played for the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions, died by suicide on Wednesday. He was 40 years old.
TMZ reported Smith's death, citing a social media post he made hours before his passing. In the post, Smith reportedly referred to himself as a "coward" and mentioned experiencing childhood abuse.
Smith had a notable college career at Wake Forest, where he was a standout cornerback. He earned two First Team All-ACC selections and was named a Second Team All-American. In 2008, he completed a consensus All-American season. During his college career, Smith led NCAA Division I in interceptions for two consecutive years, with eight in 2007 and seven in 2008. He also set a program record for career interceptions with 21. In 2007, he returned three interceptions for touchdowns, also a Division I high that season.
Following his collegiate success, Smith was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played one season in Denver before being traded to the Lions at the start of the 2010 season. With the Lions, he recorded a career-high five interceptions in 2010 and added three more in the following season. His NFL career concluded after playing four games in 2012, after which he was waived by the Lions in November of that year and not signed by another team.
If you or someone you know is affected by issues related to suicide or abuse, resources are available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255) or by texting Crisis Text Line at 741741. For those experiencing suicidal thoughts, the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline can be reached by dialing 988 or by visiting SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.