Former San Francisco 49ers player Aldon Smith passes away at 36

Aldon Smith, a former first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, has passed away at the age of 36 on Saturday, June 13.

Smith’s team announced the devastating news of his passing in a statement that reads, "We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith.”

The San Francisco 49ers stated that he showed remarkable talent and a bold approach on the field ever since he became a team member.

The team added, “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,” it continued.

"Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon,” the team’s statement concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that the San Francisco 49ers did not reveal Smith’s cause of death.

Notably, in the 2011 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers picked him seventh out of Missouri. During the first four years of his NFL career, he remained with the San Francisco 49ers and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and named First-team All-Pro in the same year. He appeared for the 49ers 50 times and tallied 152 tackles and 44.0 sacks.

Smith also played for the then-Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, hanging up his cleats after the 2020 season.