Defensive end Chris Smith had a difficult year. Last September, he lost his girlfriend in a tragic accident. In December, he was abandoned by the Cleveland Browns. Now he has another chance with his team from his hometown.
Wednesday evening, ESPN Adam Schefter reported that Smith signs a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, who play less than an hour south of where he grew up. Smith played his high school ball at West Rowan High School in Mount Ulla, North Carolina, and then signed to play at the University of Arkansas. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith played in a handful of games in each of his first three NFL seasons, but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017. In his first season as Bengal, Smith played in 16 games and had 26 combined tackles, a career high, three sacks and two defensive assists. He then signed a three-year contract with the Browns and again played in 16 games in 2018, recording 21 combined tackles and a bag.
On September 11, 2019, Smith’s girlfriend and the mother of one of her children, Petara Cordero, was killed after being struck by a car on a highway in Cleveland. Smith had stopped his vehicle after a tire malfunction, according to ESPN, and Cordero got out of the car and stood on the shoulder of the road before the accident. Cordero was 26 years old.
“Words cannot describe the pain we feel for Chris over the loss of his girlfriend, Petara,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “Our entire organization is mourning Chris, his family and the Cordero family. We will do everything we can to offer them our support, comfort and all the resources during this most difficult period.”
Less than three months later, Smith was lifted by the Browns. He played nine games in 2019, but only recorded one tackle. The 28-year-old defensive end now has another chance in the NFL near his home. In 60 career games, Smith has recorded 68 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks and six defensive assists.
