Aldon Smith's Family Sends Brain to Boston for CTE Exam After 36-Year-Old's Sudden Death
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 16
Aldon Smith's Family Sends Brain to Boston for CTE Exam After 36-Year-Old's Sudden Death
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 16
Summary
Boston specialists will examine Aldon Smith's brain for CTE and other trauma after the former NFL defensive lineman died Saturday at age 36.
No cause of death has been released, and his family has hired attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall to investigate the sudden death.
CTE can be diagnosed only after death and has been linked to repetitive head trauma, depression, impulsive behavior and violent mood swings; the family said Smith suffered numerous concussions during his NFL career.
Smith starred early with 14 sacks as a rookie and a 49ers-record 19.5 in 2012, but his career was derailed by 10 arrests in nine years and repeated NFL suspensions before a final game in 2020.