'I am A COWARD! A HUGE COWARD!': Ex-NFL player Alphonso Smith Jr. dead at 40 after troubling social media post - Check cause of death

Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. has died at age 40, according to multiple media reports. Smith reportedly died by suicide at a housing community in Florida on September 2, reported TMZ citing sources with direct knowledge. His death came hours after he shared a deeply troubling Facebook post in which he described struggling with 'demons', apologized to his family and wrote, "I am A COWARD! A HUGE COWARD!" He also referenced traumatic experiences from his childhood. Authorities have not publicly released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death. Smith played four NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions after a standout college career at Wake Forest.

"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. 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!" wrote Alphonso in his last Facebook post.

He also apologized to his children, friends and family, while seemingly referring to abuse he had experienced during his childhood.


"I am so sorry! I am a piece of shit! 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 fucked up!

"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!" he wrote. "Please pray over your families! PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL I've affected!" Alphonso wrote.

Alphonso finished the post by writing, "I am the WORST & I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure, but my BRAIN & experience is MESSED UP... Once again to ALLLLLL! I am SORRY! THIS IS IT!"

Alphonso attended Wake Forest from 2004 to 2008, earning All-American honors during his final season. His standout college career was later recognized when he was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. The Denver Broncos selected Smith in the 2009 NFL Draft, but he was traded to the Detroit Lions a year later.

Smith spent three seasons with Detroit before ending his professional football career following the 2012 season. Over 42 NFL games, Alphonso, a former NFL cornerback, recorded 88 tackles and eight interceptions, leaving behind a notable legacy from his time on the field.