Aldon Smith, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, has died. He was 36.
The 49ers released an official statement via X on Saturday, June 13, to confirm the news.
“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the statement read. “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.”
The organization continued, “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.”
An official cause of death has not yet been released.
Shocked fans responded to the news by sharing their devastation over the sport star’s untimely death.
“Damn rip i was just watching his highlights weeks back, damn man,” wrote one X user, while another added, “36 is too damn young!! Rest easy Aldon.”
Another wrote, “So tragic, sad. He was an incredible player.”
Smith was selected by the 49ers with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and quickly established himself as one of football’s most feared pass rushers. During his first two seasons in the league, he recorded 33.5 sacks across 32 regular-season games.
His breakout rookie campaign earned him second place in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2011. The following season, Smith was named a first-team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection after helping lead San Francisco to one of the NFL’s top defenses.
Smith also started in Super Bowl XLVII, where 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 served a nine-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The 49ers released Smith in August 2015 following a DUI arrest. He later signed with the Oakland Raiders and appeared in nine games during the 2015 season, making seven starts.
After Week 10 of that campaign, Smith was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. The suspension sidelined him for the entirety of the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Smith’s career was further derailed by more off-field issues, including a 2018 arrest on a domestic violence charge 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 later signed with the Seahawks during the 2021 offseason but was released before the start of the regular season.
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