Aldon Smith, NFL Star and All-pro Linebacker, Dies at 36
WHO:
CBS News - Aldon Smith was an All-Big 12 selection for the Missouri Tigers in 2010.
CBS News - Smith was a part of a 49ers linebacking corps that included future Hall of Famers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.
SFGATE - Aldon Smith was pronounced deceased at a hospital in San Jose.
SFGATE - The Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner is in charge of investigating his cause and manner of death.
DallasCowboys.com - Aldon Smith, former NFL defensive end and All-Pro linebacker.
CBS News - Aldon Smith, drafted seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Fox News - San Francisco 49ers, Aldon Smith's former team, announced his death.
WHAT:
CBS News - Smith's 33½ total sacks in his first two seasons are the most in NFL history for a player's first two seasons.
CBS News - Smith had 20 tackles and 5½ sacks in eight postseason appearances during his career.
CBS News - Smith's death was confirmed by the San Francisco 49ers, who stated, "We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith."
USA Today - Smith's career included a total of 152 tackles and 44.0 sacks in 50 games for the 49ers over four seasons.
Fox News - Smith was a part of a 49ers defense that helped propel the team to a 36-11-1 record over his first three years in the league and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2012 season.
Heavy NFL - Smith was released by the 49ers in August 2015 following his third DUI arrest, which was also a hit-and-run.
The New York Times - Smith was arrested several times between 2012 and 2021, including four arrests for driving under the influence and a domestic violence case.
SFGATE - Smith attended a team practice at the 49ers’ practice facility in Santa Clara, California, just last week and spoke to the team’s rookies.
SFGATE - Smith had 3 1/2 sacks in the playoffs during the 2013 season.
SFGATE - Smith served a six-month jail sentence for DUI in 2023 and never played again in the NFL.
DallasCowboys.com - Smith played his last NFL season in 2020, finishing second on the Cowboys with five sacks and scoring his only career touchdown by returning a fumble 78 yards in a game against the Bengals.
Raiders.com - Smith played nine games for the Raiders in 2015 as part of a career in which he posted a total of 52.5 sacks in six active seasons.
CBS News - Smith's career included a total of 50 games and eight postseason games for the 49ers, where he recorded 120 solo tackles and 32 assists.
DallasCowboys.com - Smith played a total of 50 games and eight postseason games for the 49ers.
CBS News - Smith's rookie season included a team-high 14 sacks, the second most by a rookie in NFL history.
CBS News - In 2012, Smith was a First Team All-Pro selection and set a franchise record with 19.5 sacks.
CBS News - Smith had 5½ sacks in one game against the Chicago Bears during the 2012 season.
USA Today - Smith recorded 120 solo tackles and 32 assists during his four seasons with the 49ers.
USA Today - Smith's NFL career included a total of 75 games played and 53 starts.
USA Today - Smith's total tackles in his career stand at 228, with 172 being solo tackles.
CBS News - Smith's total career sacks are recorded at 52.5.
DallasCowboys.com - Smith played a total of 75 games in his NFL career, starting 53 of them.
USA Today - Smith recorded 228 total tackles, with 172 being solo tackles.
CBS News - Smith's career total of sacks stands at 52.5.
CBS News - Smith recorded 33½ total sacks during his first two years, a league record for a player's first two seasons.
CBS News - In 2012, Smith had 5½ sacks in one game against the Chicago Bears.
USA Today - Smith had 20 tackles and 5½ sacks in eight postseason appearances during his career.
DallasCowboys.com - Smith finished second on the Cowboys with five sacks during his last NFL season.
DallasCowboys.com - Smith scored his only career touchdown by returning a fumble 78 yards in a game against the Bengals.
Fox News - Smith signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April 2021 but was released before the season began.
DallasCowboys.com - Aldon Smith passed away at the age of 36.
CBS News - Smith recorded 14 sacks in his rookie season, the second most by a rookie in NFL history.
CBS News - In 2012, Smith set a franchise record with 19.5 sacks and was named a First Team All-Pro.
Raiders.com - Smith posted a total of 52.5 sacks during his six active NFL seasons.
Fox News - Smith was the fastest player in NFL history to reach 30 career sacks, achieving this in just 27 games.
WHERE:
CBS News - Smith played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys during his NFL career.
Fox News - Smith played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, as a member of the 49ers.
WHEN:
CBS News - Smith was drafted in 2011 and played for the 49ers until 2014.
CBS News - Smith played his last NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
Heavy NFL - Smith's death was confirmed on June 13, 2026.
WHY:
Fox News - The 49ers stated, "Aldon’s undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field were on display from the moment he joined our organization," highlighting his impact on the team.
Fox News - The 49ers stated, "We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith," highlighting the impact of his death on the organization.
Fox News - Smith's career was marked by a series of legal and personal troubles, including multiple arrests and suspensions.
CBS News - Smith's NFL career was troubled by multiple suspensions for violating the league's substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
HOW:
CBS News - Smith was suspended for the first nine games in 2014 for substance abuse and personal conduct policy violations.
SFGATE - Smith applied for reinstatement to the NFL in 2016 but was not allowed back initially.
CBS News - Smith was released by the 49ers following the 2014-2015 season after his third DUI arrest.
USA Today - Smith was suspended nine games in 2014 for substance abuse and personal conduct policy violations.
Fox News - Smith entered rehab voluntarily in 2013 and served a nine-game suspension in 2014 for substance abuse violations.
CBS News - Smith returned to the NFL in 2020 after being reinstated and played a full season with the Cowboys.
Aldon Smith, an All-Big 12 selection for the Missouri Tigers in 2010, made a significant impact in the NFL, recording 33 and a half total sacks in his first two seasons, the most in league history for that span. He was part of a formidable 49ers linebacking corps alongside future Hall of Famers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, and he also contributed 20 tackles and five and a half sacks during his eight postseason appearances. However, Smith faced challenges in his career, including a suspension for the first nine games of the 2014 season due to violations of the substance abuse and personal conduct policies.