'I Have Hurt So Many': Former NFL Player Alphonso Smith Jr.'s Final Post Before Reported Suicide

Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. died aged 40 after publishing a deeply troubling Facebook message in which he appeared to connect experiences he said occurred during his childhood with harm he later said he caused to others.

On 2 September, TMZ reported that Smith had died by suicide at a housing community in Florida, citing sources with direct knowledge of the circumstances.

His final social-media post has since drawn attention because of its references to childhood experiences, personal struggles and people he said he had hurt.

Alphonso Smith Jr.'s Apparent Suicide

As of writing, the full official findings regarding the cause and manner of his death had not been publicly released. Before his death, Smith shared a lengthy message on Facebook in which he repeatedly apologised to his children, friends, family and others.

'I have HURT so many! I needed help & did not get it!' he wrote.

Smith also described struggling with what he called 'demons' and expressed remorse throughout the message.

Former NFL Player's Final Post Appeared to Describe a Cycle of Harm

The most troubling part of Smith's message concerned events he said occurred during his childhood and the consequences he appeared to say followed. Addressing members of his family, Smith wrote that 'things happened' to him when he was little involving 'an older lady'.

He continued: 'As a result guys, I did the same onto others!'

The statement appeared to connect experiences Smith said occurred during his childhood with harm he later caused. However, his post did not identify those involved, and its precise meaning and the underlying circumstances have not been independently established.

The Allegations

Smith's final message has also prompted renewed scrutiny of allegations concerning his conduct after his NFL career.

CBS12 reported that Smith's tenure at Pahokee High School ended in 2015 following allegations of inappropriate conduct. The reports reviewed for this article did not establish those allegations as proven facts.

In 2016, Smith was arrested on a battery charge following an alleged incident involving his former girlfriend in Palm Beach County, according to contemporaneous reporting. Smith denied striking her.

However, neither matter should be conflated with the statements in Smith's final Facebook post.

His Life After the NFL

Smith was a standout at Wake Forest University, where he finished with 21 career interceptions, an Atlantic Coast Conference record. He was later inducted into the university's Sports Hall of Fame.

The Denver Broncos selected Smith with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He later played for the Detroit Lions and appeared in 42 NFL games, recording 88 tackles and eight interceptions.

After leaving the NFL, Smith remained involved in football and coached at schools in Florida.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental or emotional distress or is considering self-harm, please reach out for help. You can contact 988 in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7. In the UK, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123.