Aldon Smith Reveals Sobering Message From Dying Grandmother Helped Turn His Life Around
By Michael Luciano
Aldon Smith is trying to change the entire narrative surrounding him, as the former San Francisco 49ers star signed with the Dallas Cowboys in an attempt to get his life and football career back on track.
Smith claims his return to football was inspired by his grandmother, who passed away last year due to complications from Lou Gehrig's Disease. Smith's grandmother told him to "do better" on her deathbed, and he took that to heart.
Cowboys DE Aldon Smith: "I got to a point where I was fed up with how I was living my life, and I knew I needed to change." Grandma, who had ALS, passed last year. Her final message was to "do better" and get what he deserved in life.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 29, 2020
Smith, a former No. 8 overall pick out of Missouri, was nothing short of dominant in his first three years in the league, piling up 42 sacks in 43 games, including 19.5 in his second year. Unfortunately, his behavior got the better of him, as he had almost 10 arrests related to a variety of different offenses, including driving while intoxicated, hit and run, and claiming he had a bomb at an airport.
Smith figures to serve as a backup behind the likes of Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, and Dorance Armstrong this season. If Smith can play even half as well as he did in his early days with the 49ers, the Cowboys will have a unique weapon on defense that can cause some problems.
Aldon Smith has been conditionally reinstated by the NFL.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 20, 2020
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When Smith has his head on straight, his speed and strength are matched by few across the entire league. This revamped, focused Smith will be infinitely more productive than the guy who couldn't stay out of trouble in the Bay Area.