Football fans are mourning one of their own, gone too soon.
On Saturday, June 143 in the evening, the San Francisco 49ers announced that their former player Aldon Smith had died. He was 36.
And though a cause of death has yet to be publicized, friends of the late All-Pro defensive lineman are giving insight into his tumultuous life after his also difficult exit from the NFL.
Amir Shirazi, speaking with the San Francisco Chronicle, revealed that upon exiting his home on Saturday, he found Aldon slumped over in the front passenger seat of his white Chevy pickup, seemingly asleep with his mouth open.
Sensing something was wrong, he called 911 as well as former 49ers running back Anthony Dixon to the scene, though Aldon was declared dead in Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose not long after.
Amir further shared with the outlet that Aldon, originally from Greenwood, Mississippi, had spent his last day prior to his death helping deliver pizza to a homeless charity.
© Getty ImagesHe was however struggling financially, and having only recently returned to the Bay Area, he was allegedly bouncing around friends’ homes and waiting for his NFL pension to kick in.
“His only problem, and it’s true with a lot of athletes, is he made a lot of money and they lose control of themselves,” Amir shared, adding: “You give a bunch of guys in their 20s a lot of money and they lose it.”
Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, the local charity to which Aldon delivered pizzas to hours before his death, also told the Chronicle: “He got out of the car and he looked maybe kind of tired,” though noted: “He’s a giant man. I’m like, ‘Hey man, are you good? Are you good?’ and I said, ‘Can I take some pictures?’ So we took some pictures, we got the pizzas with my team, and we went and took all the pizza out there.”
“My impression was that this is a young man that wanted to help the homeless, which was great,” he added. “When the 49ers and people like that want to help the community, that’s everything.”
© Getty Images“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the 49ers shared in a statement announcing Aldon’s death. “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.”
Aldon was the seventh pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and spent four seasons with the 49ers. He spent the 2015 season with the Raiders before being suspended by the NFL for four years following various off-field incidents, including several DUIs.
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