Aldon Smith, an All-Pro linebacker who played six seasons in the NFL, died Saturday, the 49ers announced.
He was 36.
No cause of death was provided.
“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the 49ers said in a statement. “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.”
Smith, the No. 7 overall draft pick out of Missouri, was one of the top defenders in the NFL, finishing second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2011 and becoming an All-Pro a year later.
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In his first two seasons, he recorded 33.5 sacks and 103 tackles to become one of the most feared edge rushers in the NFL as he helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl 2013.
He was, however, suspended multiple times for off-field issues and arrests, first getting banned for nine games in 2014 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Before the 2015 season, he was released by San Francisco after multiple DUI arrests.
In 2024, Smith told NBC Sports Bay Area that he was “good at playing football, but I wasn’t a good football player.”
“Being a football player is, in my opinion, a responsibility and something that you need some discipline and direction and help and guidance,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into it. … There were things off the field that I needed to work on, just being a young man and wandering in my way about life.”
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He joined the Raiders in 2015, but he was suspended for four straight seasons from 2016 to 2019.
Smith made a return in 2020, playing 16 games for the Cowboys. He signed with the Seahawks on a one-year contract for the 2021 campaign but was released before the season started after an arrest on a battery charge.
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