Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has died. He was 36 years old.
The 49ers released an official statement via X on Saturday, June 13th, confirming the news.
“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the statement said. “Aldon’s undeniable talent and on-field dominance was on display from the moment he joined our organization, posting one of the best rookie seasons in National Football League history.”
The organization continued, “Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he stepped into. Our entire organization extends our deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon.”
The official cause of death has not yet been announced.
Shocked fans reacted to the news and shared their shock at the sports star’s untimely death.
One X user wrote, “I was just watching his highlights weeks ago, damn it,” while another added, “36 is too young!! Rest in peace Aldon.”
“Very tragic and sad. He was a great player,” one person wrote.
Smith was selected by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and quickly established himself as one of the most feared pass rushers in football. In his first two seasons in the league, he had 33.5 sacks in 32 regular season games.
Aldon Smith.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)His breakthrough earned him second place in the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The following season, Smith was named first-team All-Pro and was also named to the Pro Bowl after leading San Francisco to one of the NFL’s top defenses.
Smith also started in Super Bowl 47, when the 49ers faced the Baltimore Ravens in February 2013.
Despite his success on the field, Smith’s NFL career was marred by a series of off-field issues. In 2014, he was suspended for nine games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The 49ers released Smith after his arrest for drunk driving in August 2015. He then signed with the Oakland Raiders, playing in nine games and starting seven during the 2015 season.
After Week 10 of that campaign, Smith was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. This suspension sidelined him throughout the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Smith’s career was further derailed by off-field issues, including a 2018 arrest on domestic violence charges that led to his release from the Raiders.
He returned to the NFL with the Cowboys in 2020, starting all 16 games and recording 5.0 sacks. Smith then signed with the Seahawks during the 2021 offseason, but was released before the start of the regular season.
