Former NFL All-Pro pass rusher Aldon Smith has died at the age of 36, according to statements from the San Francisco 49ers.
The team, which drafted Smith seventh overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, confirmed his passing on Saturday and expressed its condolences to his family, calling his death “sudden and tragic.”
Smith made an immediate impact in the NFL after entering the league out of the University of Missouri. As a rookie, he recorded 14 sacks and finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. In his second season, he delivered a dominant 19.5-sack performance, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection while helping lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Despite his early success, Smith’s career was repeatedly interrupted by off-field issues, including legal troubles and struggles with substance abuse, which caused multiple suspensions and time away from football.
He later attempted a comeback with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, briefly returning to form in 2020 when he recorded five sacks and was named Comeback Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
Smith is remembered as one of the most naturally gifted pass rushers of his era, whose career combined elite on-field production with personal challenges.