Family of Aldon Smith seeks answers after former NFL star's death at 36
Aldon Smith's family is searching for answers about the former NFL star's unexpected death on Saturday after delivering pizzas to a California homeless charity. He was 36.
A friend of Smith found him unresponsive in his truck after the food delivery, a local pastor told to ABC station KGO-TV. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in San Jose.
The family announced on Tuesday that they're pursuing an independent investigation into Smith's death. A cause of death has not yet been determined, they noted.
"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," the family attorneys said in a statement sent to ABC News. "To that end, we have taken a number of steps including sending his brain to Boston where medical experts will examine it for CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] as well as other damage caused by years of concussions and additional trauma."
Smith, a former defensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers who also briefly played for the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys, quickly rose to fame as a star rookie in 2012. He retired in 2023.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head, often seen in military veterans and athletes including football players, hockey players and boxers. It causes symptoms like memory loss, mood changes, confusion and trouble thinking clearly, which usually appear years after the head trauma.
The family said that Smith suffered multiple concussions during his NFL career.
Smith, who played for the Missouri Tigers in college, rose to fame quickly after he was drafted into the NFL but his rise to stardom was hindered by a series of legal issues that included 10 arrests in nine years, according to ESPN.
The legal hurdles that Smith faced include three arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence, including a hit and run, an arrest for felony weapons charges and arrests for battery and domestic violence, ESPN reported. He was also suspended for violating the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies before being conditionally reinstated in 2020.
Smith, who launched an initiative to help young athletes navigate the pressures of a high-profile career, reflected on his struggles in an interview that was posted on YouTube four days before his death. It is unclear when the interview was recorded.
"I've definitely had better days," he told "Laced Up" host Tee Maultsby.
"I'm just struggling accepting how it's playing out right now," he added. " "To be honest, I'm grateful man."
The family hired national civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall to coordinate the investigation into Smith's death. They also said that civil rights leader Bishop William Barber II has been providing them with spiritual guidance as they mourn.
"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," the family attorneys said.
The San Francisco 49ers released a statement on Saturday mourning Smith's death, noting that the team is "devastated" by his sudden death.
"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," the statement said. "Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into."
ABC News' Liz Neporent contributed to this report.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News and ESPN.
