Steve Smith Sr. is trying to focus on “positive self-talk” as he faces a major lawsuit..
Smith, the former wide receiver for both the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens, was hit with a lawsuit on Monday, April 28, in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, per documents obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, May 2.
Smith is being sued by Antonio Martinez, who filed the lawsuit under the state’s “alienation of affection law” which is also described as the “homewrecker law.” Smith is accused of having an affair with Martinez’s wife, and the law allows the spouse of someone who has an affair to sue the offending party.
On Saturday, May 3, Smith appeared to indirectly address the lawsuit on Instagram. “The conversations in our heads can help or hurt you! Positive self-talk is a real thing. Learning to get back to doing that more #letthem #letme #TGIF #Agent89,” he captioned a meme that reads, “F.E.A.R. has two meanings: Forget Everything and Run, or Face Everything and Rise.”
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Antonio and his estranged wife Nicole Martinez married in September 2021 and separated in February 2025, soon after Antonio found messages allegedly exchanged between Smith and Nicole.
Antonio and Nicole share a blended family of six children, including one biological child. Nicole previously played in the Raven’s marching band.
“On or about September 29, 2024, [Smith] was employed by the NFL Network to film an episode for the ‘The NFL’s Most Interesting Jobs with Steve Smith’ in Baltimore, Maryland,” Antonio’s suit stated. “The episode entitled ‘Steve Smith Sr. JOINS The Baltimore Ravens Marching Band’ features [Smith] joining the Marching Ravens for a gameday experience.”
Smith and Nicole allegedly met while the episode was being filmed, the suit continues, and “Subsequently, [Smith] began communicating with Plaintiff’s wife, calling her, and exchanging numerous text messages with her. These messages were often sexual in nature and included the exchange of photographs and videos, nude photographs including pictures of Defendant’s penis, and videos of Defendant masturbating and ejaculating.” (Us Weekly has reached out to Smith for comment.)
Former NFL Star Steve Smith Sr. Accused of Having Months-Long Affair Under ‘Homewrecker’ Law
The lawsuit claims that Smith and Nicole had been texting each other from October 2024 through February, and contains excerpts of their sexually charged exchanges. At one point, Nicole confessed, “I haven’t felt that spark in years.” Smith called their first hotel-room encounter “magical,” telling Nicole, “Ur Body is so nice. Kissing u was amazing! I wish had more time because it could have gotten better. didn’t want to be rough but wanted you to feel me like I was feeling you.”
Nicole responded: “I am glad I wasn’t the only one feeling that magic. I feel selfish for wanting more time w/ you. But it felt like a dream.”
Antonio called Smith to confront him about the affair and filed for divorce on February 27.
