Lawsuit alleging affair by former Panther Steve Smith Sr. moves forward
A lawsuit accusing former Carolina Panthers star Steve Smith Sr. of ruining a marriage by having an affair with a Baltimore Ravens band member is inching closer to trial, despite the N.C. Sports Hall of Famer’s request to dismiss the case.
Antonio Martinez accused Smith, a 13-season Panthers wide receiver who later played for the Ravens and became an NFL analyst, of having an affair with his wife from September 2024 to February 2025.
Martinez filed the lawsuit in April under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law — also known as a “homewrecker law.” Only a few states host such lawsuits, which allow a spouse to sue a third party for interfering with and destroying a marriage’s love and affection. He asked Smith for more than $100,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and punitive damages.
But in late June, Smith asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit. In Mecklenburg Superior Court last week, attorneys for Smith argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because Martinez’ wife was in Maryland during the alleged conduct. The only tie to North Carolina is that Smith sent text messages while at his home near Charlotte, J. Alexander Heroy argued at the Jan. 14 hearing.
“I think it’s pretty clear here that [Martinez] is trying to take advantage of our laws and come down here and make something out of this,” Heroy said.
In the motion to dismiss, Smith argued that Martinez would be unable to prove that genuine love and affection existed in his marriage because Martinez filed divorce paperwork against his wife in January 2024 — nine months before Smith ever met Martinez’ wife. Heroy did not bring up that argument during the latest hearing, but Martinez’ attorney, Amanda Smith, briefly addressed it. The couple had renewed their vows in September 2024 — days before Martinez’ wife met Smith, she said.
Mecklenburg Superior Judge Craig Collins denied Smith’s request to dismiss the lawsuit at the end of the 45-minute hearing, pushing the case into discovery and closer to trial.
A next court date has not been set. Other arguments and motions to dismiss could still come before the court.
Steve Smith Sr. ‘homewrecker’ lawsuit
Martinez alleged that his wife met Smith during a September 2024 filming for “The NFL’s Most Interesting Jobs with Steve Smith.”
The lawsuit claims Smith and Martinez’ wife then began a monthslong texting relationship and met later in Smith’s hotel room in January 2025. Martinez found the messages in February and attached them to the lawsuit.
Mecklenburg court records also show that Smith and his wife separated in February.
Smith had been married just shy of 25 years when they separated. In October, she filed for sole custody of their 11-year-old child and asked for child support from Smith. Within weeks, they agreed on sharing joint custody and finalized a child support plan .
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Lawsuit alleging affair by former Panther Steve Smith Sr. moves forward."
