Aldon Smith, former NFL pass rusher, dies at 36

Former NFL defensive lineman Aldon Smith has died at the age of 36, the San Francisco 49ers confirmed on Saturday. The team said Smith died in the Bay Area, but no cause of death was provided.

Smith was selected seventh overall in the 2011 NFL draft and played six seasons in the league. He appeared for the 49ers, the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys.

He was born on Sept. 25, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri, and played college football at Missouri.

Smith broke into the league with one of the NFL’s most productive rookie seasons, recording 14 sacks. He followed that in 2012 with 19.5 sacks, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors; that total remains the 49ers’ single-season franchise record.

Early impact with the 49ers

Smith’s rise came quickly after he joined San Francisco, where he established himself as a premier pass rusher. His combination of pressure production and sack totals made him one of the league’s top young defenders early in his career.

The 49ers said in a statement that they were “devastated” by his death and offered condolences to his family and those close to him. The club also cited his on-field dominance and the way he was remembered by teammates and staff.

Suspensions and later attempts to return

His career was also marked by a series of off-field issues. Smith was arrested 10 times over nine years, and the NFL suspended him multiple times for violations of the league’s personal-conduct and substance-abuse policies.

San Francisco released Smith in 2015. He later signed with the Raiders, but further discipline kept him out of football from 2016 to 2019 before he was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in May 2020.

Smith returned to play 16 games for the Cowboys in 2020. He attempted another comeback with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, but was waived shortly after signing.

In recent years, Smith sought to use his experience to support younger athletes. He launched a mentorship and recovery-coaching project called “I.M. Loading,” and he also worked with rookie classes for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders.

Further details on funeral arrangements or additional information regarding Smith’s death were not immediately available.