League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Injuries

Aldon Smith's brain to be donated for CTE research after death at 36

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 5:50 PM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

Aldon Smith's brain to be donated for CTE research after death at 36

Summary

Former NFL player Aldon Smith passed away unexpectedly on June 15, 2026, after participating in a charity event. His family announced plans to donate his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to aid research on traumatic brain injuries. Smith's death occurred shortly after he delivered pizzas to a homeless charity in the San Francisco Bay area. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and his family is seeking legal counsel to investigate the circumstances surrounding it. Smith, who was 36, faced numerous off-field incidents and suspensions during his NFL career.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Status Watch

•Aldon Smith died suddenly on June 15, 2026.
•His family will donate his brain for CTE research.
•Smith delivered pizzas to a charity hours before his death.
•No cause of death has been released.
•Smith's family has hired attorneys to investigate.

Latest Updates

5:50 PMThe Guardian Sport — Former NFL star Aldon Smith’s brain to be donated for CTE research after death at 36

What they're saying

"
Player died suddenly after charity work on Saturday Off-field incidents, suspensions affected his career 49ers statement: ‘His smile lit up every room’ The family of former NFL star Aldon Smith is donating the player’s brain to the Boston University CTE Center to research the effects of repetitive brain injuries. The 36-year-old died suddenly on Saturday, hours after delivering pizzas to a homeless charity in the San Francisco Bay area. No cause of death was given and Smith’s family has hired attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall to investigate his death. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Agencies

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