Aldon Smith, a former first-round pick and premier edge rusher, has died, according to the San Francisco 49ers. He was 36.
"We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith," the 49ers said in a statement, via
Smith, the seventh overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, established himself as a defensive standout immediately upon entering the league. The former Mizzou pass rusher recorded 33.5 sacks through his first 32 regular-season games.
Impressively, Smith reached 30 career sacks faster than any player in NFL history.
He finished second for the defensive rookie of the year award in 2011. The following season, Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection. He started Super Bowl XLVII with the 49ers.
Smith is the 49ers franchise-record holder for most sacks in a single season.
Although he seemed destined for a Hall of Fame trajectory with the 49ers, off-field issues robbed Smith of his prime years.
The 49ers released Smith in the summer of 2015 following his third DUI arrest since entering the league. He served a nine-game suspension the previous season for violations of the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies. In 2013, he entered a rehabilitation facility during the season.
Smith was suspended indefinitely by the league in 2015 for violating the NFL policy and program for substances of abuse.
He was not reinstated until 2020, when he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
