Aldon Smith's family will donate his brain for CTE research
3 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 4:32 PM
Last updated Jun 16, 2026
Aldon Smith, former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker, died at 36 on Saturday. His family announced plans to donate his brain to science for examination of CTE and potential damage from head trauma. Attorneys stated that the unexpected nature of his passing prompted the decision. Smith had a turbulent NFL career marked by promising performances and significant off-field issues, including multiple arrests. His family is requesting privacy as they cope with this loss.
- •Aldon Smith died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 36.
- •His family will donate his brain for CTE examination.
- •Smith faced numerous off-field issues throughout his NFL career.
- •He was found unresponsive in his truck and pronounced dead hours later.
- •Smith had notable success early in his NFL career with the 49ers.
- 11:25 PMYahoo Sports — Aldon Smith's family wants to see if CTE played a part in his death
- 4:32 PMYahoo Sports — Aldon Smith’s Family Having His Brain Checked for CTE After Former NFL Player Dies at 36
- 4:18 PMNbcsportsbayarea.com — Aldon Smith's family having former 49ers, NFL star's brain tested for CTE - NBC Sports Bay Area & California
- 4:14 PMYahoo Sports — Aldon Smith's brain donated to CTE Center as family's attorneys investigate his death at age 36
- 2:17 PMYahoo Sports — Aldon Smith's family will donate former lineman's brain, have it checked for CTE
"The family of former NFL star Aldon Smith is donating his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to research the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries following his sudden death at age 36. Smith died 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 Smith's death.
"The late athlete's family said he suffered “numerous concussions” throughout his NFL career and are sending his brain to Boston for medical examination
"The family of late San Francisco 49ers and NFL star Aldon Smith is having his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 16, 2026, 11:25 PMAldon Smith's family wants to see if CTE played a part in his death
Aldon Smith's family wants his death investigated for possible signs of CTE
- Yahoo SportsJun 16, 2026, 4:32 PMAldon Smith’s Family Having His Brain Checked for CTE After Former NFL Player Dies at 36
The late athlete's family said he suffered “numerous concussions” throughout his NFL career and are sending his brain to Boston for medical examination
- Nbcsportsbayarea.comJun 16, 2026, 4:18 PMAldon Smith's family having former 49ers, NFL star's brain tested for CTE - NBC Sports Bay Area & California
The family of late San Francisco 49ers and NFL star Aldon Smith is having his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death.
- Yahoo SportsJun 16, 2026, 4:14 PMAldon Smith's brain donated to CTE Center as family's attorneys investigate his death at age 36
The family of former NFL star Aldon Smith is donating his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to research the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries following his sudden death at age 36. Smith died 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 Smith's death.
- Yahoo SportsJun 16, 2026, 2:17 PMAldon Smith's family will donate former lineman's brain, have it checked for CTE
Aldon Smith died suddenly Saturday. He was 36.
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