Former NFL defensive lineman Aldon Smith, the former San Francisco 49ers first-round pick whose early pass-rushing peak produced a franchise sack record, has died at age 36, ESPN reported.
Smith died Saturday in the Bay Area, and the 49ers confirmed his death, according to ESPN. No cause of death was given.
49ers Confirm Aldon Smith's Death
San Francisco selected Smith with the No. 7 pick in the 2011 NFL draft after his college career at Missouri. He played six NFL seasons with the 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.
The 49ers said they were devastated by Smith's sudden death and pointed to his immediate impact after joining the organization, ESPN reported. The team also offered condolences to Smith's family and those who knew him.
Smith was born Sept. 25, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri. His NFL career opened with the kind of production that made him one of the league's most dangerous young edge rushers.
Record-Setting 2012 Season Remains Part Of 49ers History
Smith had 14 sacks and 27 quarterback hits as a rookie in 2011, finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, according to ESPN.
He followed that with 19.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits in 2012, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. ESPN reported that the 19.5 sacks still stand as the 49ers' single-season franchise record.
That two-year start placed Smith among the NFL's most productive young defensive players before off-field issues and league discipline interrupted his career.
Career Included Suspensions And A 2020 Return
ESPN reported that Smith's career was slowed by a series of off-field issues, including multiple arrests. The NFL suspended him for nine games in 2014 for violations of the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
The 49ers released Smith in August 2015 after another DUI-related arrest. He signed with the Raiders that September, then received a one-year NFL suspension in November 2015 for another substance abuse policy violation.
After being out of football from 2016 through 2019, Smith was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in May 2020 and appeared in 16 games for the Cowboys that season. ESPN credited him with 3.5 sacks for the Raiders and five for Dallas, with his final NFL sack coming against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 1, 2020.
Smith attempted another comeback with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, but the team waived him that August. He later said on the "I Am Athlete" podcast in 2023 that he was done playing.
In 2024, ESPN reported, Smith worked on a project aimed at mentoring young athletes and offering recovery coaching for people navigating similar pressures. He also served as a mentor to rookie classes with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders.