Hours before his death, Smith posted a lengthy, emotional message on his Facebook account.
Published: 9/4/2026, 4:43:57 PM EDT
Alphonso Smith #27 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown after a second quarter interception while playing the the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 11, 2011. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Former Wake Forest standout and NFL defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. died Wednesday at age 40, a death that came hours after he posted an anguished message on Facebook apologizing for unspecified past behavior and referencing childhood trauma.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in Florida said in an emailed statement that deputies had responded to an address in Pahokee, Florida, Wednesday afternoon "in reference to a suicide attempt." The statement continued "an adult male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."
Wake Forest confirmed Smith's death in a [release](https://godeacs.com/news/2026/9/3/football-wake-forest-sports-hall-of-famer-alphonso-smith-passes-away) issued Thursday afternoon, saying the university had been notified by his family, though the school's statement did not disclose a cause of death.
Hours before his death, Smith posted a lengthy, emotional message on his Facebook account. In the post, he wrote, "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! I am so sorry!"
He also wrote, "I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure," and apologized directly to his children. Elsewhere in the message, Smith alluded to abuse he said he suffered as a child at the hands of "an older lady," writing that as a result he said he "did the same onto others," and he asked his family and friends for forgiveness.Smith starred at Pahokee High School in his hometown, leading the football team to a Florida state title in 2003 as a two-way player at quarterback and defensive back. At Wake Forest, he became the ACC's all-time leader in career interceptions with 21 and ranks second in school history with 61 passes defended, the team said in a [release](https://godeacs.com/news/2026/9/3/football-wake-forest-sports-hall-of-famer-alphonso-smith-passes-away) announcing his death.
He earned first-team Freshman All-American honors in 2005, then delivered a signature moment in 2007 with a 100-yard interception return—the longest in program history—that fueled a comeback win over Maryland. That season, he recorded eight interceptions, topped nationally, and was later inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2025. Smith was a first-team Associated Press All-America selection in 2008 and a third-team AP All-American in 2007.
Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, in a statement released by the university, said, "First and foremost, I am heartbroken. Alphonso was one of those special people that every time you saw him, he had a big smile on his face and he just made you feel better to be around him ... He was an instinctive player. But, the No. 1 attribute I remember about Alphonso is his smile. He was a blessing for us".Denver selected Smith in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and he later played for the Detroit Lions before finishing his four-year NFL career with 88 tackles, eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns over 44 games. After football, he worked as a Wake Forest sideline reporter and assistant high school coach in 2013, later serving as a head coach and dean of students at schools in Florida, according to his LinkedIn profile. His final listed job was director of marketing for a South Florida physician's practice.
_If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org to talk with a trained crisis counselor._
_The Associated Press contributed to this report._