The world of NFL is today in mourning following news that Alphonso Smith Jr., a standout cornerback at Wake Forest, died on Wednesday
Former NFL star Alphonso Smith Jr has died at the age of 40 after the former Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions player shared a disturbing Facebook post about his personal struggles.
The message included a reference to some alleged abuse suffered at the hands of an older woman when he was a young boy. The American, who left the NFL in 2012, published an alarming post on his Facebook, where he called himself a ‘coward’ and apologised to his family and friends, just hours before the news of his death.
“Do not cry for me! I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME! I did not want to be that WAY! I know I have disappointed so many folks,” Smith shared on social media.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
“This is a DEMON in me! But not only me! It’s EVERYONE! I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it! I am so sorry! I am a piece of (expletive)! It’s a lot of you that are! I am A COWARD! A HUGE COWARD! I am so sorry.
“To my kids, daddy is SO SORRY! To my friends, I love you all, but your boy was f***** up!
“To my family, BABY, my MOM, my siblings, things happened to your boy, your brother while I was little that an older lady did onto me.” He finished the post by saying: “I am SORRY! THIS IS IT!”
Smith attended Wake Forest from 2004 to 2008 and earned All-American honours in his final season with the school. He was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2022.
The Denver Broncos selected Smith No. 37 overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played 15 games during his rookie season before Denver traded him to the Detroit Lions in September 2010.
Smith’s best professional season came during his first year in Detroit. He started 10 games, recorded five interceptions and returned one for a touchdown while also registering 39 tackles.
A standout cornerback, Smith remained with the Lions through the 2012 season. Across four NFL seasons from 2009 through 2012, he played 42 games and finished with 88 tackles and eight interceptions.
The 2012 season would be his final season in the NFL. He went on to hold several coaching roles and, according to his LinkedIn, was the director of marketing at the South Florida Family Physician at the time of his death.