Aldon Smith cause of death: 49ers 'devastated' after former star dies at 36

Aldon Smith, former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker, has died at the age of 36.

The news was announced in a statement by the 49ers on June 13, mourning the loss of the 7th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith," the 49ers said in the statement.

Cause of death for Aldon Smith

No cause for Smith's death was announced. This story will be updated with more information if it becomes available.

Aldon Smith age

Aldon Smith was born on Sept. 25, 1989. He was 36 years old when he died.

What happened to Aldon Smith?

Smith totaled 14 sacks in his rookie season, finishing second in the 2011 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting to Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. He followed it up with 19.5 sacks in his second season, earning a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection.

That ended up being the height of Smith's NFL career, which took a turn beginning in 2013. The linebacker was arrested in September 2013 under the suspicion of driving under the influence. Smith voluntarily entered a treatment facility, missing five games before returning to the team.

He was suspended nine games ahead of the 2014 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies. Smith was later arrested on hit-and-run, driving under the influence and vandalism charges. He was released by the Niners following that arrest.

Smith moved across the bay following his release, inking a deal with the Oakland Raiders. He appeared in nine games with the Raiders before being suspended for a year as a result of the hit-and-run arrest.

The linebacker missed the next four seasons before returning to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, his final season in the NFL.

Aldon Smith stats

Smith played six seasons in the NFL, appearing in 75 regular season games. He finished his career with 52.5 sacks, 228 total tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 103 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles and an interception.

He also played in eight playoff games, where he totaled 5.5 sacks, 20 total tackles, 15 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Aldon Smith career earnings

Smith's career earnings are somewhat disputed, depending on where you look. According to Spotrac, Smith made $24,009,157 in his career while OverTheCap has him at $19,507,286.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cause of death for Alden Smith, 49ers announce 'sudden and tragic' death at 36