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Former NFL player and college football standout 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 absolute dominance on the field were evident from the moment he joined our organization, having recorded one of the best rookie seasons the National Football League has ever seen. Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he entered. Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and everyone who knew and loved Aldon.”
Smith’s NFL career was defined by historic and unprecedented early dominance that was derailed by off-field and substance abuse issues.
Selected 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 racked up 14.0 sacks.
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Former NFL star Aldon Smith smiles as he talks about his turbulent past and hopes to help players and coaches inside NFL buildings. (Pak Gazette Digital)
In his second 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. Most notably, 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 entered rehab and missed five games. In 2014, he served a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August following his third DUI arrest. He signed with the Oakland Raiders a month later, playing in nine games before the NFL handed him a one-year suspension in November. Smith remained suspended indefinitely from the NFL for four full seasons while dealing with ongoing legal and personal issues.
Smith returned in 2020 when he successfully applied for reinstatement and played a full season for the Dallas Cowboys. He started all 16 games, recording 5.0 sacks and 48 tackles.
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is thrown 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 following year, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April, but was released before the season began following another arrest.
No cause of death was immediately revealed.
