On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced that their former edge rusher, Aldon Smith, had passed away at just 36 years of age. 

Soon after the news broke, many in the NFL world shared their reactions to the news. Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho shared a heartfelt message for Smith on the Speakeasy show. 

“I played against him in college. He’s in the same draft class, same position as my brother,” shared Acho on the Speakeasy show. “So was familiar with Aldon Smith while not being friends with Aldon Smith. It’s heartbreaking and devastating what we are witnessing in the NFL.”

Acho further added that in the last year itself, the NFL has lost four different active and alumni players under the age of 36. He emphasized that there are athletes who are humans first and have families, and called the loss of these lives “devastating and heartbreaking”.

Per Nick Brinkeroff of AOL, Smith was found unresponsive by a friend on Saturday morning. On his final day, Smith was delivering pizzas to a charity for homeless people.

Smith attended the University of Missouri and played two seasons with the Tigers. In 23 career games, he totaled 14.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 79 total tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception.

He was then selected by the 49ers as their overall No.7 pick during the 2011 NFL Draft.

Brinkeroff added that Smith was a “game-wrecker” who totaled 33.5 sacks in his first 32 games in the league.

After four years with the 49ers, he signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders in 2015. Thereafter, substance a**** issues derailed his career, keeping him away from the league from 2016 to 2019. 

Smith then came back for a year in 2020 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Brinkeroff revealed that due to his financial struggles, the 36-year-old bounced around friends’ houses and waited for his NFL pension.

“I also want us to make sure we remember him not just as an incredible athlete which he was,” shared Acho. “For context, the most sacks through two seasons in the history of the NFL, an incredible athlete.”

Acho concluded by saying that Smith had gone “entirely soon” and urged people to remember Smith for the human being he was with people who loved him. 

San Francisco 49ers Remember Their “Undeniable Talent”

The San Francisco 49ers, with whom Smith started his NFL journey, released a statement after hearing the tragic news of his passing. 

“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” wrote the 49ers in a statement. “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 49ers concluded by saying that Smith will be remembered for his “infectious smile” and sent condolences to his family and everyone who knew and loved him.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote