SouthernWorldwide.com – Former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith’s final known act before his death involved a charitable donation of food for the homeless.
The San Francisco 49ers confirmed on Saturday that Smith, who played 50 games in his six-year career, passed away at the age of 36. Hours before he was found unresponsive, Smith made an unexpected delivery of 10 pizzas to CHAM Deliverance Ministry, a charity in San Jose, California, dedicated to feeding the homeless.
Amir Shirazi, a friend of Smith’s who assisted with the surprise delivery, spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle about the charitable act. He shared details of finding Smith unresponsive in his car shortly after the donation.
49ERS ANNOUNCE DEATH OF ALDON SMITH AT 36, ONCE THE FASTEST PLAYER TO REACH 30 SACKS IN NFL HISTORY
“He was a very sweet, caring, loving giant,” Shirazi said. “That if you really knew him, you’d know who he truly is.”
After dropping off the pizzas, Shirazi drove with Smith to a grocery store and then back to his home. Shirazi explained that he briefly went inside to turn on some lights. Upon returning to the car, he found Smith slumped over in his seat.
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“I came out and he was basically dead in my front seat,” Shirazi recounted. “I’m just in shock.”
While Smith had a documented history of substance abuse, Shirazi stated that he did not observe Smith using drugs on the day he died. He mentioned seeing Smith smoke marijuana occasionally over the years. Shirazi expressed his belief that Smith’s death was a “natural death.”
“My impression was that this is a young man that wanted to help the homeless, which was great,” Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, told the outlet. “When the 49ers and people like that want to help the community, that’s everything.”
Smith was selected seventh overall in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording 14.0 sacks and forcing two fumbles in 16 games. The following year, he set a 49ers franchise record with 19.5 sacks and was named a First-Team All-Pro, helping the team reach Super Bowl XLVII.
Smith achieved 30 career sacks in just 27 games, making him the fastest player in NFL history to reach that milestone. This surpassed the previous record held by Hall of Famer Reggie White.
In 2013, Smith voluntarily entered a rehabilitation program and missed five games. In 2014, he faced a nine-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
In August 2015, the 49ers released Smith following his third DUI arrest. He was subsequently signed by the Oakland Raiders just weeks later.
Smith remained indefinitely suspended from the NFL for four full seasons as he navigated legal and personal challenges. He made a return to the league in 2020, playing a full season with the Dallas Cowboys and starting in all 16 games.
