Former NFL defensive lineman Aldon Smith dies at age 36 - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Former NFL defensive lineman Aldon Smith died Saturday in the Bay Area. He was 36.

Smith played six seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. The Niners originally selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

The team confirmed Smith's death on Saturday afternoon. No cause of death was given.

«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.»

Once viewed as one of the league's top young players, Smith's star-crossed career ended in 2020 after one season with the Cowboys.

As a rookie, Smith burst on the scene with 14 sacks and 27 quarterback hits on his way to finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting. He followed with his best NFL season in 2012, posting 19.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits as he earned Pro Bowl and All Pro honors. Those 19.5 sacks still stand as a franchise record for a season.

Smith's rapid ascent to NFL stardom was slowed by a series of off-field issues that included 10 arrests in nine years. That included an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in Miami in 2012, another on the same charge in San Jose in 2013 in which he crashed his car into a tree and an arrest for three felony charges of possessing illegal