Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. died on Wednesday in Florida at age 40. TMZ Sports, which first reported the death citing sources with direct knowledge, said he died by suicide. No medical examiner's office or law enforcement agency has publicly confirmed a cause, and no family statement has been issued.
Smith played four NFL seasons after the Denver Broncos selected him with the 37th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He was traded to the Detroit Lions in 2010 and spent three seasons there before his career ended after 2012, finishing with 88 tackles and eight interceptions across 42 games, according to reporting on his career. At Wake Forest, he set an Atlantic Coast Conference record with 21 career interceptions and was a consensus All-American as a senior. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2022.
