31 years old Former NFL star Chris Smith has died

Defensive end Chris Smith, who played in the NFL for eight seasons, passed away at the age of 31.His cause of death has not yet been made public.

Smith was a standout defensive end for the squad and a 2010 graduate of West Rowan High School. After graduating from high school, he received a recruiting offer to play for the University of Arkansas. He assisted the West Rowan Falcons in winning the 2009 3A State Championship.

Smith started games for the Razorbacks all four years of his collegiate career, and in his senior year in 2013, he was named to the second team of the Southeastern Conference.

The Jacksonville Jaguars later chose Smith in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Smith played in 19 games over the course of his three seasons with the Jaguars, recording 4.5 sacks.

Smith joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017 and played in all 16 games while recording three sacks.

From 2018 through 2021, Smith also played for the Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns. He joined the Carolina Panthers in 2020, but his only game action was as a member of the practice squad.

Smith spoke to WCNC Charlotte during his short stint with the Panthers and commented on going back to the neighborhood where he was up. Smith somberly discussed his efforts to improve danger light safety after his girlfriend and child's mother, Petara Cordero, died in September 2011 after being hit by a vehicle.

After the 2021 season, Smith's career in the NFL came to an end, but he wasn't quite done with football. Smith joined the XFL's Seattle Sea Dragons for the 2023 season and played defe nse in five games.