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Former NFL player and college football player Aldon Smith has died at the age of 36, his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, announced.
“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the team said in a statement.
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Aldon Smith #99 of the San Francisco 49ers runs on the field before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on December 20, 2014. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“Aldon’s undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field was present from the moment he joined our organization after recording one of the best rookie seasons the National Football League has seen. In addition to his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into. Our entire organization sends its deepest loving condolences to all who knew Smith and all who knew the family.”
Smith’s NFL career was defined by historic, unprecedented early dominance that was derailed by off-field issues and substance abuse.
Drafted seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 out of Missouri, Smith had one of the most explosive starts for a defensive player in NFL history. As a situational pass rusher in his rookie year, he had 14.0 sacks.
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Former NFL star Aldon Smith smiles as he discusses his troubled past and hopes to help players and coaches in NFL buildings. (Pakinomist Digital)
In his sophomore season in 2012, Smith set a 49ers franchise record with 19.5 sacks, earned First-Team All-Pro honors and helped lead the team to Super Bowl XLVII. Remarkably, he reached 30 career sacks in just 27 games, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to reach that milestone, breaking a record previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie White.
But then in 2013, he voluntarily went to rehab and missed five games. In 2014, he served a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August after his third DUI arrest. He signed with the Oakland Raiders a month later and played nine games before the NFL handed down a one-year suspension in November. Smith remained suspended from the NFL indefinitely for four full seasons as he dealt with continued legal and personal issues.
Smith made a comeback in 2020 when he successfully applied for reinstatement and played a full season for the Dallas Cowboys. He started all 16 games and recorded 5.0 sacks and 48 tackles.
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is chased out of the pocket by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Aldon Smith during the NFL game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on October 11, 2020. (Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire)
The next year, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April, but was released before the season began after another arrest.
No cause of death has been immediately disclosed.
