Aldon Smith, a former NFL defender who spent time with multiple franchises, has passed away. He was 36.
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The San Francisco 49ers, the team that drafted Smith, announced the news on Saturday night with a statement. The team did not provide a cause of death.
"We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith," the 49ers said. "Aldon's undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field were on display from the moment he joined our organization, having recorded 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 walked into. Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon."
A former Missouri player, Smith entered the NFL as the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He landed with the 49ers and kicked off a four-year stint with the NFC West team.
It was with the 49ers that Smith delivered some big plays on the field. He tallied 44 sacks, 152 total tackles, an interception, a safety, and 103 quarterback hits over four seasons. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2012 after registering 19.5 sacks.
Smith moved to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2015. He played in nine games for the Silver and Black before being suspended by the NFL. He then finished out his career with the Cowboys in 2020.
Smith missed more than four seasons due to suspensions for off-the-field issues. Authorities arrested him 10 times during his career, including multiple arrests for driving under the influence.
Smith attempted to play for the Seahawks in 2021, but an arrest on a second-degree battery charge effectively ended his career. Upon his release from jail in October 2023, he announced that he was done with football.
Smith moved to a different part of his life after giving up football. He started a company, I.M. (Intelligent Movement), and began working to educate young people. He spoke to the rookie classes of the Jaguars and Raiders in 2024 and shared the pitfalls he faced.
"After my experience and everything I've gone through and being on the other side of the depression, anxiety, self-hate and the negative self-talk, I feel like it's my duty to use what I've learned and be able to help people out," Smith told Fox News in May 2024.
"There's little tweaks and things you can do so that if you're in a better place, hopefully you're a better member of society, and we just trickle that on down. Now, we have a better community and it's a better world."
