Former NFL Defensive Lineman Chris Smith Dead At 31

Former NFL defensive lineman Chris Smith has died at the age of 31, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said this week.

Smith spent eight seasons in the NFL playing for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, and Houston Texans, according to ESPN.

It was not precisely clear when Smith died and a cause of death was not given.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Browns DE Chris Smith,” the Cleveland Browns said in a statement. “Chris was one of the kindest people, teammates and friends we’ve had in our organization. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Browns DE Chris Smith.

Chris was one of the kindest people, teammates and friends we’ve had in our organization. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/K8HySW4erM

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 18, 2023

Browns tight end David Njoku tweeted, “Hometown hero and a brother to everyone. Such a kind soul. This is Heartbreaking.”

The New York Post noted that Smith dealt with tragedy in September 2019 when his 28-year-old girlfriend Petara Cordero was hit and killed by a passing car.

Smith was driving his Lamborghini when it experienced a tire issue causing the car to hit the median. Smith apparently pulled off the side of the road, and when he and Cordero got out of the car, a woman driving a Mazda hit Cordero, killing her instantly.

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“God has a plan for all of us we can’t understand but she is in a better place now and she can rest easy,” Smith wrote on Instagram at the time. “My wifey my best friend and the mother of my beautiful daughter. Love you baby.”

Smith said that she did not feel any pain when she was killed and that it was like she “died in her sleep.”

Smith later recounted that he leaned on his teammates in Cleveland to get through the ordeal.

“I’m doing good. I’m better than I was,” Smith told the Akron Beacon Journal a couple of months after Cordero was killed. “I’ve gotten used to the new normal. I think that’s from being around my teammates, my family. Football’s helped me so much.”

“Me as a spiritual person, things happen for a reason. You don’t like the way they happen, but God doesn’t make any mistakes. She’s one of God’s angels. He had to take her home.”

Smith shared a daughter with Cordero, Haven Harris Smith, who was only four months old at the time Cordero died.

Newly signed @Panthers DE Chris Smith said it’s the hardest thing he’s ever gone through. His 6 month old daughter, Haven, will never meet her mother Petara Cordero…but she will know her.

Chris’ mission of living to honor Petara’s legacy airs Monday on @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/aC8xt2A6dR

— Matt Harris (@Matt____Harris) March 7, 2020