Aldon Smith’s Family to Donate Brain for CTE Research After His Death

The family of former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith has announced plans to donate his brain for CTE research following his sudden death at 36 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The announcement was reported by ESPN‘s Adam Schefter on X, confirming the family’s decision to pursue neuropathological testing in the aftermath of an unexpected loss.

The cause of Smith’s death has not been publicly disclosed. No official determination has been released by the family or cited authorities at this time.

What the Family Announced – and Who Is Leading the Investigation

The family has retained attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers, and Wayne Kendall to investigate the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death. In a statement, the attorneys said they want “to get to the bottom of it,” and that medical experts in Boston will examine the brain for CTE and other damage caused by years of concussions and additional trauma.

The brain will be sent to the Boston University CTE Center, the leading institution for postmortem neuropathology research in football-related cases. The family’s decision signals that both medical and legal review are underway – an unusual dual-track approach that suggests the circumstances of Smith’s death remain an open question.

Reports also noted that Smith had been delivering pizzas to a homeless charity shortly before his death – a detail that has been widely cited across coverage of the case.

Who Aldon Smith Was – and What His Career Represented

Smith was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and quickly established himself as one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the league. He earned a Pro Bowl selection and recorded 33.5 sacks in his first three seasons – a production rate that placed him among the elite pass rushers of his era.

His career was repeatedly interrupted by suspensions tied to legal issues, and he never sustained the early trajectory that had made him a marquee defensive player. He made a brief return to the league with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 before his playing days ended. The physical toll of those years – the hits, the repetitive contact inherent to his position – now sits at the center of what his family is trying to understand.

It puts the league’s and teams’ emphasis on winning above all else in perspective. A team’s focus on short-term success, often at the expense of player safety, has been a growing concern over recent years. The 49ers are getting ready for the new season, but Smith’s death will undoubtedly overshadow their preparations.

Why the Brain Donation Matters Beyond This Case

The Boston University CTE Center has become the definitive destination for postmortem brain research involving former football players. The center’s work has confirmed CTE in a significant number of donated brains from NFL players, building the evidentiary foundation that has reshaped how the league and the public understand long-term neurological risk in contact sports.

Smith’s case fits a documented pattern – families of former players who die unexpectedly, particularly at relatively young ages, increasingly turn to neuropathology to look for answers that a standard death investigation may not provide. The donation does not guarantee a CTE diagnosis, and results from the BU CTE Center typically take time and are released only if the family chooses to make them public.

What Comes Next for the Smith Family’s Search for Answers

The next significant development will likely be the neuropathology findings from Boston, though a timeline for those results has not been established. The family’s attorneys may also disclose further details about the cause and manner of death once official records or medical results are available.

Smith’s death – and his family’s decision to pursue answers through both legal counsel and brain research – adds another data point to the NFL’s ongoing reckoning with player safety. Whatever the BU CTE Center ultimately finds, the family has ensured that his case will contribute to the broader scientific record on what the game costs the people who play it.