Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. was found dead in a Florida community on Wednesday. The discovery came shortly after he posted a deeply troubled message on social media that appeared to indicate he was a victim of child abuse and felt possessed by demons.

The final line of his post warned: “This is it.” A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed Smith’s death to OutKick. While TMZ reported that Smith’s death was a result of suicide, OutKick has not independently verified this claim.

“Do not cry for me! I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME!,” Smith wrote. “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!”

Smith’s social media post conveyed his struggles with personal demons and was a clear plea for help. He admitted, “I am a piece of sh*t! It’s a lot of you that are! I am A COWARD! A HUGE COWARD!”

In his note, Smith also addressed his relationships with family and friends with something of a farewell tone.

“To my kids, daddy is SO SORRY!,” he posted.
“To my friends, I love you all, but your boy was f*cked up!”
“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!”
“Please forgive me!””Please pray over your families! PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL I’ve affected!”

The former NFL player clearly reflected on his actions and expressed a troubled state of mind. However, specific details of what he was referring to remain ambiguous.

In another part of his post, Smith wrote, “I am the WORST & I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure, but my BRAIN & experience is MESSED UP!!”

Strangely, the day before his devastating post, Smith was seen on video offering to treat neighbors to breakfast. Last year, he engaged with the Wake Forest football team, sharing his experiences.

Alphonso Smith was born in Pahokee, Florida, and excelled as a defensive back at Wake Forest University, achieving a school record with 21 interceptions. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2009, he was later traded to the Detroit Lions, concluding his NFL career with 88 tackles and eight interceptions across 42 games.

Armando Salguero is OutKick’s Senior NFL Writer. Follow him on X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO