49ers Mourn Aldon Smith As New Questions Emerge After His Death

Court decisions have settled the fate of late NFL star Aldon Smith's estate, casting light on his recent personal transformations and future aspirations.

The estate left behind by Aldon Smith will go to his only son, Aulis, following the former NFL pass rusher’s death on June 13 at age 36.

Smith’s passing hit the football world hard, especially in San Francisco, where he made his name with the 49ers. He also played for the Cowboys and Raiders, but his best-known work came in the Bay Area. Over his NFL career, Smith recorded 228 total tackles, 81 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

The 49ers released a statement mourning him, saying, “We are devastated by the sudden and tragic passing of Aldon Smith,” the 49ers said in a statement. “Aldon’s undeniable talent and sheer dominance on the field were on display from the moment he joined our organization, having recorded one of the best rookie seasons the National Football League has seen.

Beyond his excellence as a player, Aldon will be remembered for his infectious smile that lit up every room he walked into. Our entire organization sends its deepest condolences to the Smith family and all who knew and loved Aldon.”

According to TMZ, court documents show Smith left behind personal property, though the value of those assets is still unclear. TMZ reported, “The paperwork said Aulis is the only beneficiary of Aldon’s property.”

TMZ also reported that Smith’s barber, Tee Maultsby, said Smith had been in good shape and was interested in becoming a mental health advocate before his death. “We spoke with Tee Maultsby - Aldon’s barber who interviewed him on an episode of his ‘Laced Up’ podcast - said he even joked with Aldon recently that the dude still looked like he could dominate on the defensive side of the ball,” TMZ reported. “Tee says Aldon never said anything about being sick to him - on or off camera - and he says Aldon was in the process of turning his life around in recent months.”

The Smith family has also decided to send his brain to medical experts at the Boston University CTE Center to determine whether he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

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