Former Wake Forest standout and NFL defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. has died at the age of 40 following an incident at a housing community in Florida. Smith, who established himself as one of college football's most impactful turnover creators before playing four professional seasons with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions, passed away on Wednesday.
Collegiate Impact at Wake Forest and NFL Career Journey
During his collegiate tenure at Wake Forest from 2004 to 2008, Smith developed into a dominant secondary playmaker. The Florida native anchored his defense with extraordinary ball instincts, compiling 188 total tackles and 21 interceptions across his four active playing seasons. That remarkable productivity made him a premier defensive prospect, leading to his selection by the Denver Broncos with the 37th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
After spending his rookie year in Denver, Smith was traded in 2010 to the Detroit Lions, where he found extended playing time in the secondary. Across three seasons in Detroit, he continued to showcase his knack for reading quarterbacks. His NFL career concluded following the 2012 campaign, leaving him with professional totals of 42 regular-season games, 88 tackles, and eight interceptions.
Painful Social Media Message and Mental Health Struggles
Reporting from TMZ confirmed Smith's passing in his home state of Florida. Prior to his death, a deeply distressing message was posted to Smith's Facebook account detailing severe emotional pain, unaddressed childhood trauma, and long-standing personal mental health battles.
In the post, Smith wrote candidly about his internal struggles: I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME!
He went on to share long-held pain with his family, writing: 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... As a result guys, I did the same onto others!
Smith expressed profound remorse to his children, parents, and friends, writing that he needed help & did not get it
before adding: I am the WORST & I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure, but my BRAIN & experience is MESSED UP.
A Devastating Pattern in the Retired Player Community
Smith's tragic passing comes just weeks after the football community mourned former Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Jordan Devey, who died by suicide in July at age 38. Devey, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis in 2013, spent eight seasons in the NFL on rosters including the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Buffalo Bills.
Over the course of his professional tenure, Devey compiled 44 regular-season appearances and 21 starts across his playing stints with the Patriots, 49ers, Chiefs, and Raiders before retiring in 2021.
Sources
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- ctvnews.ca original
- dailymail.com original
- independent.co.uk original
