Aldon Smith
A defensive end of terrifying, record-setting explosiveness whose NFL career was ultimately derailed by a series of off-field legal and substance abuse issues.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American football player·Birthday: September 25·Millennials
Biography
Aldon Smith arrived in the NFL as a raw, athletic phenomenon from the University of Missouri, and for a brief, dazzling period, he was arguably the most fearsome pass rusher in football. With the San Francisco 49ers, his combination of length, speed, and power made him unblockable; he set an NFL record for the quickest to 30 sacks, achieving it in just 27 games. His 2012 season, with 19.5 sacks, was a masterpiece of defensive disruption that earned him All-Pro honors. However, his on-field dominance existed in stark contrast to a growing list of arrests, suspensions, and stints in rehab, related to DUIs, weapons charges, and substance abuse. Multiple NFL suspensions, including one that lasted from 2015 to 2020, fragmented his career. A much-publicized comeback with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 showed flashes of his old self, but further off-field incidents led to his release and effective end in the league, leaving a legacy of immense, unfulfilled potential.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aldon was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aldon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Aldon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the NFL record for most sacks in a player's first two seasons (33.5 from 2011-2012).
- Earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2012 after recording 19.5 sacks for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News in 2011.
- Recorded a career-high 14 sacks during his comeback season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
Did You Know?
He was a highly recruited basketball player in high school and didn't focus solely on football until college.
His 2011 NFL Draft selection was announced by former 49ers great and fellow pass rusher Charles Haley.
He played only two full 16-game seasons in his entire NFL career.
During his long suspension, he worked at a coffee shop owned by his former 49ers teammate Justin Smith as part of his rehabilitation.
“I had all the talent in the world, but I couldn't get out of my own way.”
