49ers announce death of Aldon Smith at 36, once the fastest player to reach 30 sacks in NFL history

Former NFL player and college football standout Aldon Smith died at the age of 36, his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, announced.

“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the team said 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 organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon.”

Smith’s NFL career was defined by historic, unprecedented early dominance that was derailed by off-the-field and substance abuse issues.

Drafted seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 out of Missouri, Smith had one of the most explosive starts for a defensive player in NFL history. As a situational pass rusher in his rookie year, he racked up 14.0 sacks.

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In his second season in 2012, Smith set a 49ers franchise record with 19.5 sacks, earned First-Team All-Pro honors, and helped lead the team to Super Bowl XLVII. Notably, he reached 30 career sacks in just 27 games, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to hit that milestone, breaking a record previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie White.

But then in 2013, he voluntarily entered rehab and missed five games. In 2014, he served a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.

In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August following his third DUI arrest. He signed with the Oakland Raiders a month later, playing nine games before the NFL handed down a one-year suspension in November. Smith remained indefinitely suspended from the NFL for four full seasons as he dealt with continued legal and personal troubles.

Smith made a comeback in 2020 when he successfully applied for reinstatement, and played a full season for the Dallas Cowboys. He started all 16 games, recording 5.0 sacks and 48 tackles.

The next year, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in April but was released before the season began following another arrest.

No cause of death has been immediately disclosed.