The San Francisco 49ers announced that former star defensive end Aldon Smith died Saturday at the age of 36 years old.
The team released this statement on Saturday evening:
We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith. 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.
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Before arriving in the NFL, Smith was a standout at Mizzou during the Tigers’ Big 12 days. His best season came in 2009 when he recorded 19 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2009.
Smith went on to become the No. 7 overall pick by the 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft. His accolades included earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2012.
Smith was born in 1989 and graduated from Raytown High School in Raytown, Missouri, before enrolling at Mizzou.
Mizzou Football shared this message on social media on Saturday evening:
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
