Alphonso Smith Jr., Former NFL Cornerback, Passes Away at 40

Alphonso Smith Jr., a former NFL cornerback known for being the 37th overall pick in the 2009 draft, has passed away at the age of 40 in a Florida housing community.

His death, reported as a suicide, occurred on Wednesday. Prior to his passing, Smith shared a concerning message on Facebook that highlighted his struggles.

Smith was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos and later traded to the Detroit Lions in 2010, where he played until 2012, participating in 42 regular-season games with 11 starts. He was a consensus All-American during his college career at Wake Forest and was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Condolences have been extended to his family, friends, teammates, and coaches.