Smith totaled 14 sacks in his rookie season, finishing second in the 2011 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting to Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. He followed it up with 19.5 sacks in his second season, earning a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection.
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That ended up being the height of Smith’s NFL career, which took a turn beginning in 2013. The linebacker was arrested in Sept. 2013 under the suspicion of driving under the influence. Smith voluntarily entered a treatment facility, missing five games before returning to the team.
He was suspended nine games ahead of the 2014 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies. Smith was later arrested on hit-and-run, driving under the influence and vandalism charges. He was released by the Niners following that arrest.
Smith moved across the bay following his release, inking a deal with the Oakland Raiders. He appeared in nine games with the Raiders before being suspended for a year as a result of the hit-and-run arrest.
The linebacker missed the next four seasons before returning to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, his final season in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aldon Smith death cause after 49ers announce once-promising star died at 36
