Former NFL defensive lineman Chris Smith, who played for multiple teams including the Cleveland Browns, has passed away at the age of 31. The cause of his death is unknown. Smith spent eight years in the NFL, beginning his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Las Vegas Raiders. Tributes from former teammates and organizations poured in on social media.
In 2019, Smith’s girlfriend Petara Cordero was killed in a car accident just weeks after giving birth to their child. Smith was described by the Browns team as “one of the kindest people, teammates and friends we’ve had in our organization.” Prior to joining the NFL, Smith was a hometown hero and star of his North Carolina high school football team.
