Aldon Smiths family seeks CTE answers after ex-NFL stars sudden death at 36
The family of former NFL star Aldon Smith is searching for answers following his sudden death at age 36.According to ESPN, Smith’s family has decided to send his brain to medical experts in Boston to determine whether chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played a role in his death.The decision comes as attorneys hired by the family continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Smith’s passing.“As with anyone who dies so suddenly at such a young age, we understand that there is a great deal of interest in and speculation about Aldon’s passing and we intend to get to the bottom of it,” attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall said in a statement released Tuesday.The attorneys added that Smith’s brain would be examined for CTE “as well as other damage caused by years of concussions and additional trauma.”No official cause of death has been released.It was reported that Smith was found in a friend’s Chevy pickup truck.The news adds another heartbreaking chapter to the story of a player whose career was marked by both immense potential and personal struggles.Smith was selected seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft and immediately became one of football’s most dominant pass rushers.
He recorded 14 sacks as a rookie before exploding for 19.5 sacks in 2012, a franchise record that still stands.At just 23 years old, Smith appeared destined to become one of the league’s premier defensive players.Instead, his career became increasingly defined by off-field struggles.Smith was arrested multiple times throughout his NFL career and faced repeated suspensions related to violations of the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
He eventually spent four seasons out of football before briefly returning with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.Yet those who knew Smith often described a different side of him.According to ESPN, Smith spent the hours before his death delivering pizzas to a charity serv...