How did Aldon Smith die? His cause of death is a mystery, but new details are shedding light on his tragic final hours.

According to ESPN, the former NFL defensive lineman “died Saturday (June 13, 2026) in the Bay Area. He was 36.” Smith’s friend tried to revive him after finding the former NFL star slumped over inside a truck, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.The Chronicle reported that Smith spent his last hours helping deliver pizzas to a homeless charity.

Aldon Smith never had a wife; he was not married at the time of his death. He did have an ex-girlfriend. Here what is known so far about Smith’s death.

Aldon Smith’s Friend Said He Was ‘Joking About Life’ Shortly Before Slumping Over

Smith was with a friend named Amir Shirazi, who called 911 when, according to People, he “found Smith slumped over in the passenger seat of his truck.” Smith was “declared dead at San Jose’s Good Samaritan Hospital around an hour later. A cause of death has not yet been made public,” People reported.

Everything seemed fine shortly before.

“We were joking about life and talking about stuff right before,” Shirazi told San Francisco Chronicle. “He was perfectly fine an hour before.”

“He got out of the car, and he looked maybe kind of tired,” Scott Wagers, who received one of the pizzas, told The Chronicle. “But 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.”

The San Francisco 49ers Did Not Release a Cause of Death for Aldon Smith But Praised His ‘Undeniable Talent’

The 49ers confirmed Smith’s death in a statement but did not reveal the cause. “We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the 49ers wrote in the 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. Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into. Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon.”

Noted the team: “Smith was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers as the seventh overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. During his career with the 49ers, he appeared in 50 games (30 starts) and registered 152 tackles, 44.0 sacks, five passes defensed, five forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. Smith also appeared in eight postseason contests (six starts) and totaled 20 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.”

Added the team, “Born Aldon Jacarus Smith on September, 25, 1989, he attended the University of Missouri where he was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection and the recipient of Missouri’s Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2010.”