Former top-10 pick and new Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Aldon Smith has not played in the NFL since 2015. His time away from the league was spent dealing with substance abuse issues and other off-field problems prior to signing with Dallas this spring.
Smith, 30, was best known for putting up an historical start to his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers before substance abuse issue led to his demise.
Now sober and looking to turn his life around, Smith’s story of recovery is one that’s equally as passionate as it is eye-opening.
The Missouri product talks about how he was fed up with the way he was living his life. He also focused on his grandmother dying of ALS last year and what she told him on her death bed.
If that doesn’t wake someone up, I am not too sure what will. It’s a story of a man who was trying to do right, and got some encouragement in the form of tough love from a family member who was dying.
The No. 7 overall pick back in 2017, Smith recorded 42 sacks in his first three NFL seasons. He was on pace to become the league’s all-time sack leader. Now years later, Smith is back at it with the Cowboys looking to make his grandmother proud and resurrect his life.
We can’t help but root for him.