Aldon Smith Was Apparently In Great Shape Prior To Death At 36

The NFL community is still trying to process the unexpected death of former All-Pro pass rusher Aldon Smith.

Smith, who played for the 49ers, Cowboys and Raiders during his career, had 228 tackles, 81 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. During the 2012 season, he racked up 19.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits for San Francisco's defense.

Unfortunately, Smith died in the Bay Area this past Saturday. He was just 36 years old.

"We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith," the 49ers 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."

What makes this situation even more devastating is the fact that Smith was apparently in good health prior to his death.

Smith's barber, Tee Maultsby, told TMZ that Smith wanted to become a mental health advocate in the second chapter of his life.

"We spoke with Tee Maultsby -- Aldon's barber who interviewed him on an episode of his 'Laced Up' podcast -- said he even joked with Aldon recently that the dude still looked like he could dominate on the defensive side of the ball," TMZ reported. "Tee says Aldon never said anything about being sick to him -- on or off camera -- and he says Aldon was in the process of turning his life around in recent months."

Smith family is searching for answers.

The Smith family has decided that his brain will be sent to medical experts at the Boston University CTE Center. The goal is to figure out whether or not he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

"As with anyone who dies so suddenly at such a young age, we understand that there is a great deal of interest in and speculation about Aldon Smith's passing and we intend to get to the bottom of it," attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall said. "To that end, we have taken a number of steps including sending his brain to Boston where medical experts will examine it for CTE as well as other damage caused by years of concussions and additional trauma. In the meantime, we simply ask you to keep Aldon's family in our prayers and respect their privacy as they struggle to come to grips with this terrible loss."

Our thoughts are with the Smith family.

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 7:43 PM.