Key facts
- Former NFL linebacker Aldon Smith died at age 36.
- The San Francisco 49ers confirmed his death on June 13, 2026.
- Smith had a record-setting start with the 49ers, recording 14 sacks as a rookie and 19.5 in his second season.
- In his final interviews, Smith revealed he often felt he was not good enough.
- He expressed no interest in coaching or becoming a football analyst after his playing career.
Former NFL linebacker Aldon Smith, once an All-Pro known for his explosive pass-rushing ability and a record-setting start with the San Francisco 49ers, has died at the age of 36. His death was confirmed by the 49ers on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Smith's career was significantly impacted by numerous off-field issues, including 10 arrests over a nine-year period. Despite his on-field success, including 14 sacks as a rookie and a franchise-record 19.5 sacks in his second season, Smith revealed in his final published interviews that he struggled with self-doubt.
Speaking with celebrity barber Tavion "Tee" Maultsby, Smith confessed, "I never thought I was good enough." He explained that external validation often drove him, stating, "My head was always so in the place of the external needed to be happy with me." He also expressed a lack of interest in traditional post-football careers, such as coaching or being an analyst, noting, "It's just not something that I had interest in."