Former NFL star Steve Smith Sr. is being sued by the husband of his alleged mistress.
The lawsuit against Smith, who was a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens, was filed on Monday, April 28, in court in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, per documents obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, May 2.
The plaintiff, Antonio Martinez, is suing Smith, 45, under North Carolina’s “alienation of affection law,” which is also known as the “homewrecker law.” It allows a spouse to sue a third party for breaking up a marriage.
According to the lawsuit, Antonio is seeking $100,000 in damages as well as a jury trial. He also accuses Smith of both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Antonio and his estranged wife, Nicole Martinez, married in September 2021 and separated toward the end of February 2025, when he allegedly discovered that Smith “had been messaging” Nicole, the court docs stated.
At the time, Antonio and Nicole — who share a blended family of six children, including one biological son — were living together in Baltimore County, Maryland. Antonio is a retired police officer and Nicole formerly played in the Ravens’ marching band, the Marching Ravens. As for Smith, he works as a sports analyst for NFL Network. (Us Weekly has reached out to Smith for comment.)
“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.”
While filming the episode, Smith allegedly met Nicole and “provided his phone number to contact and communicate with each other,” the suit continued. “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.”
The lawsuit claims that in January 2025, Smith visited Baltimore for the Ravens’ playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Nicole joined the Marching Ravens on the field that day.
During the game, Smith allegedly slipped his hotel room key inside Nicole’s belongings. She met him at the hotel later and the two had sex.
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.”
Per the lawsuit, Antonio discovered their messages after having sex with Nicole, who confessed to the affair. He called Smith to confront him.
“Hey, yo Steve,” he said, according to the docs.
“Yes, sir,” Smith allegedly responded.
“Yeah, you’ve been f***ing my wife, bro,” Steve replied. “Whatcha gotta say for yourself?”
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Smith allegedly apologized to him, with Antonio responding, “You f***ing knew she was married. … You’re not a f***ing idiot, man, you’re f***ing Steve Smith, Sr.”
He added, “All that s*** you do on TV. All that s*** talking you do to other people. Now someone’s got you on the f***ing phone and you can’t even f***ing man up?”
Antonio filed for divorce from Nicole on February 27 in Baltimore County. His lawsuit includes a photo of Antonio crying happy tears on their wedding day as well as a shot of the exes with their infant son circa 2021.
