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Former NFL player and college football star 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 onto 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 dominance on the field were evident from the moment he joined our organization, having posted one of the best rookie seasons the National Football League has 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 our deepest condolences to the Smith family and all those who knew and loved Aldon.”
Smith’s NFL career was defined by historic and unprecedented dominance that was derailed by substance abuse and off-the-field issues.
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 passer during his rookie year, he accumulated 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. (PK Press Club 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. 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 violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August after his third drunk driving arrest. He signed with the Oakland Raiders a month later, playing in nine games before the NFL issued a one-year suspension in November. Smith remained indefinitely suspended from the NFL for four full seasons as he faced ongoing legal and personal issues.
Smith made a comeback in 2020 when he successfully requested 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 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 following year, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April, but was released before the start of the season following another arrest.
No cause of death was immediately released.
