NFL Player Aldon Smith Spoke About Struggling, Having ‘Better Days’ in Video Posted Just Before His Death at 36
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Shortly before his death at 36, former NFL star Aldon Smith said that he was "struggling" and had "definitely had better days” in a podcast interview
- Smith said he was dealing with a long-standing personal issue, but that he remained hopeful
- The San Francisco 49ers announced Smith's death on June 13
A video of Aldon Smith posted just days before his death features the late former NFL player saying he'd had “better days” and was “struggling.”
In the video, which was shared by Laced Up, a podcast in which professional barber Tee Maultsby chats with guests while cutting their hair, Smith answered a question about how he was feeling that day.
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“I feel I've definitely had better days. I definitely have better days,” the athlete, who died on Saturday, June 13, at the age of 36, replied.
Aldon Smith in 2020Credit: Perry Knotts/Getty
While Smith then said he didn't feel like elaborating on the specifics of his situation, he shared that it was something he'd been “dealing with” for a long time.
“It's along the lines of something I think I've been dealing with my whole life, and I'm just struggling with accepting how it's playing out right now,” he said.
The former 49ers player went on to say that while it had been a hard few days, he believed that things were turning around.
“I'm in a place of gratitude right now,” he said. “It's been a tough week, but it's been rewarding and it's starting to pay off. Things are starting to happen.”
The linebacker, who was in the Bay Area at the time of the interview, also said that returning to San Francisco felt “bittersweet.”
“I've gotten such a warm reception from people and the places that I've gone. But I don't feel as if I'm ready to be back here right now,” he explained.
Aldon Smith in 2020Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty
News of Smith's death was first announced by the San Francisco 49ers in a statement shared on June 13.
"We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith. 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 team said.
"Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into," the team continued. "Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon."
The team did not provide a cause of death.
In the hours before he died, Smith helped deliver pizzas to a homeless charity, Smith's friend, Amir Shirazi, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Shirazi also told the outlet that he found Smith slumped over while in the passenger's seat of his Chevy pickup later that day.
The man said he quickly realized something was wrong and called 911, but Smith was pronounced dead about an hour later.
The seventh overall pick out of Missouri in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith spent the first four years of his NFL career in San Francisco, where he was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and named First-team All-Pro that same year. He made 50 appearances for the 49ers and tallied 152 tackles and 44.0 sacks.
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Smith also played for the then-Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, with his final season being in 2020.
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