The San Francisco 49ers announced the death of former star linebacker Aldon Smith on Saturday night. He was 36 years old. The team did not provide a cause of death.
A Promising Career Derailed
Smith was selected by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He made an immediate impact, helping San Francisco end a playoff drought and reach the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance.
As a rookie, Smith recorded 14 sacks and finished second to Von Miller in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. In 2012, he set a franchise record with 19.5 sacks and earned first-team All-Pro honors. His 33.5 sacks over his first two seasons remain the most in NFL history.
Off-Field Troubles Begin
Smith's career trajectory changed in 2013 when he was arrested for DUI and entered a rehabilitation program for substance abuse, missing five games. He later faced a weapons charge that same season. Despite these issues, he returned to the field and posted 3.5 sacks in the playoffs.
In 2014, Smith was suspended for the first nine games and never regained his early form due to further suspensions and injuries. The 49ers released him in August 2015 after another DUI arrest—his fifth in three years. He signed with the Oakland Raiders and had 3.5 sacks in nine games before being suspended again.
Legal Battles and Attempted Comebacks
Smith applied for reinstatement in 2016 but was initially denied. The Raiders released him in 2018 following a domestic violence arrest, which later resulted in a plea agreement. He was reinstated in 2020 and played 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys, recording five sacks.
He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 but was arrested for battery and released during training camp. In 2023, he served a six-month jail sentence for DUI and never played in the NFL again. Smith finished his career with 52.5 sacks in 75 games.
College Achievements
At the University of Missouri, Smith was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and received the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2010.
The 49ers remembered Smith as a player with undeniable talent and dominance, noting his infectious smile. The Raiders also expressed their condolences, stating Smith was respected by his teammates and would be missed dearly.
