Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back at Wake Forest who played four seasons in the NFL, has died at 40. Wake Forest announced his death Thursday afternoon after being notified by his family. The school’s release did not include a cause of death.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, contacted Thursday by the Associated Press, said sheriff’s deputies responded to a Pahokee address on Wednesday afternoon in reference to a suicide attempt. The office said an adult male was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Smith appeared to post on his Facebook account Wednesday, writing about mental health struggles, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. He apologized to his children in the post and indicated that trauma from his childhood had caused him lasting mental anguish.
His football career
The Denver Broncos selected Smith in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played in 15 games for Denver, contributing on special teams as a punt and kickoff returner, before being traded to the Detroit Lions shortly before the 2010 season.
With Detroit, Smith played in 33 games over two seasons, including 11 starts, and recorded eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Lions released him before the 2012 season, re-signed him later that year, then released him again after four games. He appeared in 44 NFL games total across four seasons.
His roots and life after football
Smith grew up in Pahokee, Florida, and attended Pahokee High School, where he helped the football team win a Florida state championship in 2003 as a two-way player at quarterback and defensive back. He enrolled at Wake Forest, redshirted as a freshman and became a key contributor over the following four seasons.
He was a first-team AP All-America selection as a defensive back in 2008 and earned third-team honors in 2007.
After his NFL career, Smith worked as a sideline reporter for Wake Forest football during the 2013 season and simultaneously served as an assistant coach at a high school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He later became a head football coach, first in Moore Haven, Florida, and then at Pahokee High School, where he was also dean of students. His most recent position listed on LinkedIn was director of marketing for a South Florida family medicine practice.
A note on mental health
Smith’s Facebook post described fighting what he called demons, saying he had not wanted to be the way he was, that he knew he had disappointed people and that he had needed help and had not received it. He said he was sorry.
NFL players face elevated rates of mental health challenges relative to the general population, including depression, chronic pain from injuries and difficulty adjusting to life after football. The NFL’s Player Care Foundation supports former players in accessing mental and physical health services.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.
