Former defensive lineman Aldon Smith dies at 36
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- Aldon Smith died Saturday in the Bay Area at age 36, the 49ers confirmed Saturday afternoon; no cause of death was disclosed.
- The San Francisco 49ers selected Smith seventh overall in the 2011 NFL draft, and he played six NFL seasons across San Francisco, Oakland, and Dallas.
- Smith posted 14 sacks as a rookie and 19.5 sacks in 2012 — still a 49ers franchise single-season record — on his way to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
- Ten arrests in nine years, including three DUIs and three felony weapons charges in October 2013, led to multiple NFL suspensions and the 49ers releasing him on Aug. 7, 2015, a day after a hit-and-run arrest.
- A 2021 comeback attempt with the Seattle Seahawks ended when Smith was waived on Aug. 11 following a second-degree battery arrest in Louisiana.
- In 2024, Smith launched the "I.M. Loading" mentorship program and served as a mentor to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders rookie classes, telling Keyshawn Johnson's podcast he wanted his journey to serve as "a cautionary tale."
Why it matters: Smith's death at 36 closes a career that began with 14 sacks as a 2011 rookie and was derailed by 10 arrests in nine years, including three DUIs and felony weapons charges. His 2024 launch of the "I.M. Loading" mentorship program showed a late attempt to reshape his legacy.
