There is a saying, “In this world, families who are toxic exist.” The New York Jets star Tyron Smith can relate to those words.
He has faced financial feuds with his family, where they made numerous demands on him. This led to a lot of tension and even legal actions.
Highlights
- Tyron Smith’s parents are Frankie Pinkney and Jerry Lee Smith.
- The star offensive tackle grew up with five siblings, including his half-brothers, half-sisters, stepbrothers, and stepsisters.
- In 2012, the star NFL player was forced to call the cops on his family member.
The New York Jets star was born in Los Angeles, California, to his parents, Frankie Pinkney and Jerry Lee Smith. His biological father passed away when Tyron was just one year old.
Frankie Pinkney later married Roy Pinkney, who became the athlete’s stepfather.
His mother and stepfather ran a cleaning service named “Pinkney’s Cleaning Service” that specialized in cleaning new buildings after construction was done.
Smith spent much of his elementary school years helping with his family’s business.
His family would all pile into a van and drive miles away from their home in Moreno Valley, California, to different places like Phoenix or Sacramento.
They would clean buildings and then drive back, sometimes taking up to seven hours. They would get home around 4 or 5 in the morning, and by 8 a.m., Tyron and his five siblings would be ready for school.
When he grew older and taller, he worked even harder, because he could now reach the high windows. In an interview with ESPN, Tyron said he felt he was an asset than a son.
Tyron Smith Spent Most Of His Childhood Helping With The Family Business
On October 30, 2012, the star football player had to call the police on his own family due to increasing tensions and harassment.
This incident occurred just three days after his girlfriend, Leigh Costa, had to call the cops on his family member.
The police report mentioned that two of Tyron’s sisters showed up unannounced, demanding money and causing distress.
By then, the athlete had already filed a protective order against his mother and stepfather due to their continuous financial demands.
Tyron began playing football in high school, not because it was his lifelong dream. In fact, he had never watched football as a kid, and he had no time for it.
He was a natural talent at 6’5″ and 310 pounds. He was allowed to skip family work for weekend football camps.
The New York Jets player said it may have caused some friction with his siblings, though he never noticed.
Eventually, football became an escape for him, a place to play freely without worrying about anything else.
“When I was out there, I was just enjoying playing. For me, playing a sport was my own space, away from reality. You don’t have to worry about anything because you’re out there, and you can just play freely.“
Tyron Smith
His exceptional skills earned him a scholarship to USC, but his family’s financial expectations grew along with his success.
After signing a lucrative $12.5 million rookie contract, the athlete bought cars, paid off mortgages, and offered significant financial support to his family.
However, it was never enough. It was as if his family found a new cash cow. Their demands kept increasing, ultimately leading to a strained relationship.
“Growing up, it’s hard to feel separated. You don’t know which direction to go… It got really complicated. I was the one who always asked, ‘Can I get my own job? Can I do my own thing?’ I didn’t want to work in the janitorial business my whole life.“
Tyron Smith
Additional Information
- Tyron Smith’s net worth as reported by Forbes is around $21 million. He currently earns an annual salary of $6.5 million with the New York Jets.
- He is married to Holly Berens. They got engaged in April 2023 and married in July 2024. Tyron has three children: Seven, Holly, and Jaxson (with Lexi Placourakis).
- He signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets worth $6.5 million. The contract is fully guaranteed.
