Alphonso Smith Jr., a former second-round NFL draft pick and Wake Forest record-holder, was found dead in a Florida community after a Facebook post in which he referenced childhood abuse and begged forgiveness.
A family member confirmed Smith's death to OutKick senior NFL writer Armando Salguero on Wednesday. Smith was 40 years old. The family member did not wish to be publicly identified. TMZ reported that Smith died by suicide, though OutKick stated it could not independently verify that report.
No law enforcement agency or medical examiner has publicly confirmed a cause of death. What is confirmed is that Smith, born in Pahokee, Florida, left behind a Facebook post that read like a farewell, addressed to his children, his family, and his friends, and ended with three words: "THIS IS IT."
The post, which Smith is believed to have authored on the day he was found dead, contained raw and disturbing admissions. He wrote about fighting "demons" and referenced abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of an older woman. He then wrote that as a result of what happened to him, he had done "the same onto others."
OutKick's Salguero noted that what exactly Smith was referring to in that passage remains unclear.
Smith addressed his children directly:
"To my kids, daddy is SO SORRY!"
He addressed his family:
"To my family, BABY, my MOM, my siblings, 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!"
And he pleaded for prayer:
"Please pray over your families! PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL I've affected!"
Other lines in the post were blunt and self-condemning. He called himself "A HUGE COWARD" and wrote, "I am the WORST & I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure, but my BRAIN & experience is MESSED UP!!" He also wrote that he "needed help & did not get it."
The post's final line, "Once again to ALLLLLL! I am SORRY! THIS IS IT!", left little ambiguity about his state of mind.
In a detail that sharpens the contrast, Smith was caught on video the day before his post knocking on the door of a nearby home and offering to buy everyone breakfast. No further context about the video, who recorded it, where it was taken, or what prompted the visit, appeared in the reporting.
Smith had also spoken to the Wake Forest football team within the past year, though the nature of that engagement was not described.
Smith grew up in Pahokee, a small town on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee known for producing an outsized number of professional athletes relative to its population. He became a standout defensive back at Wake Forest, where he set the school record with 21 interceptions, a mark that still defines the program's record book.
The Denver Broncos selected him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, 37th overall. But Denver traded him to the Detroit Lions after just one season. Smith spent the bulk of his brief professional career in Detroit, where he recorded a pick-six against Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder in December 2011 at Ford Field.
Over four NFL seasons, Smith played 42 games with 11 starts. He finished with 88 tackles and eight interceptions. For a second-round pick, the career was short. But Smith's college production and draft pedigree made him a recognizable name in football circles, particularly at Wake Forest.
OutKick did not report the specific Florida city or venue where Smith was found. No law enforcement statement has been made public. The confirmed cause of death, the timeline of events on Wednesday, and whether anyone attempted to intervene after the Facebook post appeared, all remain unknown based on available reporting.
The Facebook post itself has not been independently confirmed as authored by Smith beyond the family member's confirmation of his death. OutKick described the post as "self-loathing and lamentable" and "something of a goodbye."
Smith's death follows other recent losses in the NFL community. A linked report referenced the suicide of Super Bowl champion Jordan Devey at age 38, and the death of former Dallas Cowboys defender Marshawn Kneeland at 24, who was found to have early-stage CTE.
Smith's post spoke of demons. It spoke of abuse suffered and inflicted. It spoke of a man who said he needed help and did not get it. Whatever the full truth behind those words, they are a reminder that fame and athletic achievement do not inoculate anyone against the damage done in childhood, and that the systems meant to catch people before they fall still have gaps wide enough to lose a life through.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
