Will Smith, who spent 10 seasons with the Saints and the 2014 offseason with the Patriots, was killed Saturday night in New Orleans in an apparent road rage shooting.
Smith played for the Patriots briefly in 2014. He signed with the team after being released by the Saints but was let go at the end of training camp.
Though Smith didn't spend much time in New England, it's clear that he made an impact on the franchise during his few months in the locker room. The Patriots organization, several of Smith's former teammates and Patriots team chaplain Jack Easterby all reacted to the news of Smith's death with heartfelt messages on social media.