Former NFL defensive end Aldon Smith died Saturday in the Bay Area at age 36. The former seventh overall pick played six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys before his career was derailed by repeated off-field issues and suspensions.

Smith burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2011, recording 14 sacks and 27 quarterback hits while finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. His peak came in 2012 when he posted 19.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Those 19.5 sacks remain a franchise record for the 49ers.

His promising career unraveled through a string of legal troubles including 10 arrests over nine years. Smith faced multiple DUI charges, assault weapon possession charges, and hit-and-run incidents that led to NFL suspensions and his release from San Francisco in 2015. He played nine games for the Raiders in 2015 and 16 for the Cowboys in 2020, his final NFL season.

After retiring in 2023, Smith launched the "I.M. Loading" project to mentor young athletes facing similar pressures. The 49ers remembered him for his "undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field" along with his "infectious smile that lit up every room."