Chris Smith, a former NFL defensive end who played for eight seasons, has passed away at the age of 31. The West Rowan High School in North Carolina, where Smith attended, confirmed his death. The cause of his passing has not been disclosed.
On Monday, the football account of West Rowan High School took to Twitter to express their condolences and pay tribute to Chris Smith, a celebrated alumnus of the school. The tweet reads, “Rest in Peace to a West Rowan legend! Chris was a better person than he was a player! The impact he had on those around him will be remembered forever!”
The Salisbury Post, a local publication in North Carolina, has confirmed the unfortunate news of Chris Smith’s passing. Smith, who had a notable career as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL), played for five teams during his time in the league, including the Jaguars, Bengals, Browns, Raiders, and Texans, from 2014 to 2021.
Smith’s journey to the NFL began when he was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, after a standout college career at the University of Arkansas. In his final year at Arkansas, he was recognized as a Second-Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) player, a testament to his impressive skills on the field.
Chris Smith’s football career saw him briefly play for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL earlier this year, where he played in four games and recorded five tackles.
Smith’s passing comes just four years subsequent to another immense tragedy in 2019. Smith’s girlfriend, Petara Cordero, who was also the mother of one of his three children, lost her life in a tragic incident. Cordero was fatally struck by a passing car after exiting the vehicle that Smith was driving, leaving behind a deep sense of grief and loss for Smith and his family. Our prayers are with them during this heartbreaking ordeal.
