Aldon Smith's Family Suspects CTE May Have Played a Role in His Death

The San Francisco 49ers community was rocked by the news of former star edge-rusher Aldon Smith's untimely passing at the age of 36 on Saturday.

Smith, a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler who was the seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft, retired after the 2020 season, which he spent with the Dallas Cowboys.

He reportedly spent the final hours before his death delivering pizza to a homeless charity in the San Francisco area, which made his death later that day all the more shocking.

It's not known how Smith died, but his family seemingly has their suspicions, which is why they want his brain studied to see if CTE played a role in his death.

"The family of Aldon Smith has decided to send his brain to medical experts at the Boston University CTE Center to see whether chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played a role in the former NFL defensive lineman’s death," ESPN reported.

"… No cause of death has been given. Smith’s family has hired attorneys to help investigate his death."

Over 90% of former NFL player brains studied at the Boston University CTE Center (345 out of 376) have been found to have CTE, which is "a brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries. It causes the death of nerve cells in the brain, known as degeneration," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Smith burst onto the scene as an elite pass-rusher as a rookie, logging 77 pressures, 43 hurries, 17 QB hits, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, according to Pro Football Focus.

He followed that up with the best year of his career, totaling 85 pressures, 47 hurries, 19.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, and three forced fumbles, per PFF, en route to his first All-Pro selection.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 8:42 PM.