Aldon Smith’s death at 36 sparks CTE probe, NFL safety reckoning
Former 49ers star’s medical emergency triggers legal and medical review into brain trauma, forcing the league to confront its concussion protocols again.
The family of Aldon Smith, the 36-year-old former San Francisco 49ers defensive end, has retained attorneys to investigate his death following a medical emergency, with plans to examine his brain for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The probe comes amid escalating scrutiny of the NFL’s concussion protocols and long-term player safety measures. Smith’s death occurred in Los Gatos, California, where he was found unresponsive on December 19, 2023.
