Chris Smith, a former NFL standout, died, his agent reported on Twitter. He was 31.

Smith, a former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman, played in the NFL for eight years, including stops in Jacksonville, Cincinnati, and Las Vegas.

His cause of death was unknown at the time we published this article. 

"Chris was one of the kindest people with pure heart, teammates, and friends we've ever had in our organization," the Browns Club said on Twitter.


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Smith's NFL career began in 2014 when the Jacksonville Jaguars picked him as a defensive lineman. His personal life, however, was scarred by tragedy. Petara Cordero, his girlfriend, was murdered in a car accident just weeks after the birth of their child in 2019.

Smith was regarded as a "great teammate and friend" by Tony Khan, son of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.

"He suffered a tragic loss," he tweeted. "I hope they are reunited in Heaven."


Smith participated in three seasons for the Jaguars before shifting to the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. According to a local newspaper, he was a hometown legend and star of his North Carolina high school football team before joining the NFL.