Former NFL Player Alphonso Smith Jr. Dies at 40 After Troubling Social Media Post
Former NFL Player Alphonso Smith Jr. Dies at 40 After Troubling Social Media Post
Kimberlee SpeakmanThu, September 3, 2026 at 7:57 PM UTC
6
Alphonso Smith Jr. in 2012Credit: Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images via AP -
Former NFL player Alphonso Smith Jr. has died at the age of 40 in Florida, PEOPLE has confirmed
Smith was a standout athlete at Wake Forest, setting an ACC record with 21 career interceptions
He played for the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions before retiring in 2012 and later coached at his high school
Former Denver Broncos player Alphonso Smith Jr. has died.
The former NFL cornerback died at the age of 40, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE. TMZ was the first to report the news.
Smith reportedly died by suicide at a housing community in Florida, TMZ reported. However, details into his death have not yet been released.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
— sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The news comes one day after Smith reportedly shared a cryptic message on Facebook in which he apologized to loved ones and asked for forgiveness. He wrote, “... I know I have disappointed so many folks… I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it!”
Smith apologized to his friends, parents, siblings and kids in his post.
Alphonso Smith Jr. plays for the Broncos in 2009Credit: Otto Greule Jr/Getty
Following the news of his death, several fans took to social media to pay tribute to the former NFL star. One person wrote on X, “RIP to one of the greatest to ever wear a Bronco Jersey 🙏.” Another person said, “Condolences and prayers for his family during this difficult time. May his soul find peace.”
Advertisement
Smith began his football career in Pahokee, Fla. where he played as a quarterback and defensive back for Pahokee High School, according to local outlet WPEC. He led the team to a state championship in 2003 and even was a runner-up for Florida’s prestigious Mr. Football award, per the outlet.
He continued his athletic career at Wake Forest University, where he set an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record with 21 career interceptions from 2004-2008. Thanks to his football achievements, he was later inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2021.
In 2009, he was selected 37th overall in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played his rookie season with the team before being traded over to the Detroit Lions, where he played three seasons, per WPEC.
After playing 42 games in the NFL, he retired from the league in 2012. Throughout his professional career he tallied 88 tackles and eight interceptions, per WPEC and USA Today.
Following his retirement from professional football, he returned to Pahokee High School as a coach. However, his coaching career at his alma mater ended in 2015 following inappropriate conduct allegations, per WPEC.
Smith previously told the outlet of his decision to return to coaching: “Some of our kids don’t have their father at home and sometimes don’t have the proper nutritional food to eat. Some of these things that we face we need to turn it into a why instead of a crutch or an excuse. So we use football. Football is our why.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
