Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Chris Smith died at age 31, according to multiple reports.
Smith was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft after recording 21.5 sacks in his final three seasons with the Arkansas Razorbacks. In three years in Jacksonville, Smith appeared in 19 games and recorded 4.5 sacks.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Smith. pic.twitter.com/VKTiHSTwE7
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 18, 2023
Rest In Peace, Chris Smith.
Chris came to the Jaguars in 2014 and spent 3 years here. He was a great teammate and friend.
He suffered a tragic loss in 2019 when Petara, his girlfriend + mother of his child passed away in a vehicular accident.
I hope they're reunited in Heaven
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) April 18, 2023
The Jaguars traded Smith to the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2017 offseason and he later had stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans. Most recently, he joined the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in March 2023 and appeared in five games with the team.
In his final NFL season, Smith recorded a sack against the team that drafted him when he brought down Trevor Lawrence while with the Texans.
The cause of Smith’s death has not yet been reported.
