Former NFL star Aldon Smith found dead at 36 in friend's truck

Former NFL star Aldon Smith has died suddenly at the age of 36. He was found in a friend’s Chevy pickup truck. No official cause of death has yet been released. Smith was selected seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he recorded 14 sacks, followed by a franchise-record 19.5 sacks in 2012.

His career saw a pause due to off-field struggles, keeping him out of football for four seasons. He briefly returned in 2020 with the Dallas Cowboys.

In the hours before his death, Smith was delivering pizzas to a charity serving homeless individuals. His family has now sent his brain to medical experts in Boston for examination. They suspect CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma, may have played a role. The family’s attorneys are also investigating the circumstances surrounding his passing. The cause of Smith’s death remains undetermined. His brain will be studied to check for signs of CTE. The family continues to seek answers about the events leading to his sudden death.