What Happened to Aldon Smith? A Simple Explanation

Who Was Aldon Smith?

• Aldon Smith was a professional football player in the NFL.
• He played as a defensive end—that means his job was to tackle the quarterback and stop the other team from scoring.
• He was only 34 years old when he passed away.

The Day He Died: June 13

• Aldon Smith died suddenly on June 13.
• His former teammate Donte Whitner was very worried and spoke out publicly, saying there were many unanswered questions about what happened.

The 911 Call: What We Learned

The San Francisco Chronicle released the six-minute 911 call made right after Smith was found unresponsive. Here’s what happened, step by step:

1. Amir Shirazi (a friend who was with Smith) called 911.
2. He told the dispatcher:
   

   “I have a friend, it looks like he fainted or passed away in my car. He just had pizza and I came back and he was just fainted and passed out in the car.”

3. The dispatcher asked if Smith was awake. Shirazi said:
   

   “No, it looks like he passed away… He’s not breathing, no.”

4. Anthony Dixon (another former 49ers teammate) was also there. On the call you can hear him yelling:
   

   “Come on! He’s not responding! … Oh my God, Aldon, brother!”

5. The dispatcher asked if they had a defibrillator (a machine that can shock the heart to restart it). Shirazi said they did not have one.
6. Shirazi kept saying:
   

   “My friend is trying to wake him up. He won’t wake up.”

Important: Donte Whitner first mentioned Anthony Davis was present, but the 911 call confirms it was actually Anthony Dixon.

What the Friend Said Later

Later that same day, Amir Shirazi sent a text message to the Chronicle with more details:

• He said Smith seemed “a healthy young man” and “completely normal” all morning.
• Smith didn’t complain about anything while they were in the car.
• He was relaxed, had finished eating pizza and drinking a water bottle right before he became unresponsive.
• Shirazi added: “Hopefully the autopsy comes out soon.”

What’s an autopsy? It’s a special medical exam doctors do after someone dies to figure out exactly why they died.

What We Still Don’t Know

• The official cause of death has not been released—it might not even be known yet.
• Because there are so many questions, Smith’s family has hired lawyers to investigate exactly what happened.

What Happens Next?

1. Wait for the autopsy results – This will give the medical reason for his death.
2. Family’s investigation – Their lawyers will look into all the circumstances.
3. Public updates – More information may come out as the investigation continues.

Summary

• Former NFL player Aldon Smith died suddenly on June 13 at age 34.
• A 911 call reveals he was found unresponsive in a car after eating pizza and drinking water.
• His friend Amir Shirazi and former teammate Anthony Dixon tried to help, but he wasn’t breathing and they had no defibrillator.
• Shirazi said Smith seemed perfectly healthy and normal that morning.
• The cause of death is still unknown, and Smith’s family has hired lawyers to investigate.

FAQ

Q: Who was Aldon Smith?
A: He was a former NFL defensive end (a football player who tries to sack the quarterback) who played for teams like the San Francisco 49ers.

Q: What does “unresponsive” mean?
A: It means he wasn’t waking up, talking, or moving—even when people tried to wake him.

Q: Why is the 911 call important?
A: It gives a real-time picture of what happened right after he was found, including that he wasn’t breathing and no life-saving equipment was available.

Q: What is an autopsy and why does it matter?
A: An autopsy is a detailed medical exam after death to find the exact cause. It’s the best way to know why someone died suddenly.

Q: Why did the family hire lawyers?
A: Because there are many unanswered questions about how and why he died, and they want a thorough, independent investigation.