The family of former NFL defensive lineman Aldon Smith wants to know if football played a role in his sudden passing, so they are sending his brain to medical specialists in Boston to check for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as CTE.

Smith passed away Saturday at 36 years old. His death came as a shock, especially since he had spent some of his final hours volunteering by delivering pizzas to a homeless charity. Because authorities have not given a clear cause of death yet, his family brought in a legal team to help look into what happened.

Attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers and Wayne Kendall issued a statement Tuesday outlining the family's next steps. They acknowledged that when someone passes away so suddenly and at such a young age, people are naturally going to ask questions and speculate. To get answers, the legal team confirmed they are having Smith's brain examined by experts in Boston who specialize in detecting CTE, as well as any other damage caused by years of concussions and head injuries from his playing days. The lawyers also asked the public to keep the family in their prayers and give them space to grieve.

Smith's family noted that he dealt with numerous concussions throughout his football career.

When he first entered the league, Smith was an absolute force on the field. He racked up 14 sacks during his first year with the San Francisco 49ers. By 2012, he put together a historic season with 19.5 sacks, which earned him All-Pro honors and still stands as the 49ers' single-season franchise record.

While his talent on the gridiron was undeniable, his career was constantly derailed by personal and legal challenges. Smith was arrested 10 times over a nine-year stretch on charges ranging from driving under the influence to weapons possession. Those off-field troubles led to a nine-game suspension in 2014, and San Francisco cut ties with him the following year after another DUI-related arrest.

Smith eventually signed with the Oakland Raiders but sat out from 2016 to 2019 because of league suspensions. He returned to the field in 2020, playing a full 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys before a brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021.

Once his playing days were over, Smith tried to use his own struggles to guide younger players. In 2024, he launched a mentorship and recovery program called "I.M. Loading" to coach young athletes through the heavy mental health pressures and personal hurdles that come with life in professional sports.