Alphonso Smith Jr. and the NFL's Mental Health Crisis | New England Patriots News

The NFL is shaken by the tragic death of Alphonso Smith Jr., a standout cornerback who took his own life at 40, leaving behind a heartbreaking final message about unmet mental health needs. Former Patriots star Asante Samuel demanded the league stop treating player struggles as jokes, calling for urgent, compassionate action. New data reveals NFL players face nearly triple the suicide rate of other pro athletes since 2011, highlighting a crisis that demands more than reactive support — even as the league offers a 24-hour helpline, many feel ignored during their transition out of football. Smith’s legacy includes a still-standing ACC interception record and a career that touched teams from Denver to Detroit. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/eb568886e32ebaf2