Overview
- The San Francisco 49ers confirmed late Saturday that former All‑Pro defensive end Aldon Smith died at age 36 and said the organization was “devastated” by the loss.
- Smith burst onto the NFL after the 49ers picked him seventh overall in the 2011 draft and posted 14 sacks as a rookie and a franchise‑record 19.5 sacks in 2012, earning first‑team All‑Pro honors.
- A string of legal incidents and multiple NFL suspensions, including a nine‑game ban in 2014 and an indefinite suspension in 2015, dramatically interrupted his career and cost him several seasons.
- Smith returned to play 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, announced his retirement in 2023, and in 2024 worked on mentoring young players about handling pressure and setbacks.
- No cause of death has been released and reporting is developing as former teams including the Raiders and Cowboys issue condolences and the sports world processes the sudden loss.