Aldon Smith could have been among the NFL’s best defensive players. This was someone who racked up 19.5 sacks in the 2012 season. But a series of legal troubles kept him out of the game repeatedly, and he was eventually suspended by the league in 2020. In this dark time, however, he found solace in his grandmother, who simply told him to  “do better.” Smith told Cowboys insider David Helman that he was a little hurt his grandma passed away earlier than expected.

In a bitter twist of fate, 49ers and Cowboys fans would unfortunately be saying the same for the talented defensive lineman.

The San Francisco 49ers announced on June 13 that Smith had tragically passed away at just 36 years old. No cause of death has been revealed, but the timing of the tragedy is truly shocking.

Considered one of the most talented defensive players in recent history, Smith burst onto the scene with as a rookie with the 49ers, posting 14 sacks and 27 quarterback hits, and finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Then came his impressive 19.5 sack haul in 2025. No other defensive player has a sack total this high from the first two years of their careers. In his four years with the 49ers, he recorded 44 sacks.

“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the 49ers wrote in a statement. “Aldon’s undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field were on display from the moment he joined our organization, having recorded one of the best rookie seasons the National Football League has seen. Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into. Our entire organisation sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon.”

After his passing, recently retired quarterback Russell Wilson and veteran NFL media personality Jay Glazer shared heartfelt tributes to Smith on social media.

“Oh no!” Wilson wrote on his Instagram stories. “One of the most talented guys I ever got to play against.”

Glazer penned an emotional note reflecting on his friendship with the 49ers star:

“Absolutely gutted,” he wrote on X. “Beyond gutted to hear the news of the passing of my dude Aldon Smith. Can’t believe it. Mannn, just gutting… Soooo proud, through the ups and downs, still so proud! And I always will be. This one definitely hurts. RIP my brother.”

After 2012, Smith’s career tumbled to failure after he was embroiled in multiple legal issues. In the next nine years, he was arrested 10 times. The late DE told Authority Magazine’s Chad Silverstein that he struggled with substances and alcohol during this time, adding that the pressure of being “wanted by everyone” was too much.

Smith closed out his career on an unceremonious note, having been on the rosters of the Dallas Cowboys, the Oakland Raiders, and the Seattle Seahawks. He was suspended by the league multiple times and ended up not playing for two full seasons. Smith could not go past the 10-sack mark since the 2012 season. He had to serve time in 2023 for a felony DUI, after which he announced his retirement.

However, Smith is still remembered fondly by those who know him because of the work he has put in to fight his demons. Even though he is no more, that fighting spirit served as an inspiration to many others.

Aldon Smith had started a foundation to help others who struggled with the same issues

Smith told Helman in 2020 that he had reached a “breaking point” in his life due to his continued off-field struggles. In 2019, he was working at a car dealership, per Jonny Auping. He didn’t have an ID, without which he could not cash his paychecks. Something had to be done.

“After my career ended, I was living in an extended stay hotel in Texas with nothing,” he told Silverstein. “Every relationship in my life ended. I stopped blaming anyone else and decided to focus inward. I changed what I was listening to, what I was watching, who I was interacting with — and over time, my mindset started to shift.”

He checked himself into a rehab center and worked hard to fight his troubles. Auping notes that this wasn’t to get back to the NFL; it was simply the first step needed to be a better person. From here, he’d managed to strike up a bond with Glazer, who also runs a support initiative for players and trains them. Glazer knew first-hand what Smith had gone through, and the potential he had coming out of his battles.

When the DE signed his contract with the Cowboys, he had asked Glazer and his son to be present, so that the young one could see what his dad helped with.

In 2024, Smith took after Glazer and started the ‘I.M. Foundation’ to offer guidance to players who went through the same troubles as him.

“The best leaders I’ve known were open and honest about how they felt, even if it wasn’t always positive,” he told Silverstein. “And they were consistent — they didn’t just show up once or twice; they were there week after week. That kind of support matters, especially when you’re in a tough spot.”

Those who knew Aldon Smith upfront will definitely have a tough time moving on from this tough loss.