On the last day of his life, the talented but troubled former NFL defensive end Aldon Smith went to a charity for homeless people, and donated food.
That was confirmed by both the charity’s founder and Smith’s friend Amir Shirazi, who was with him on Saturday to make the delivery, and shortly after that found him unresponsive.
Shirazi says that Smith, whose NFL career was repeatedly interrupted by arrests, suspensions and other problems off the field, had been trying to turn his life around.
“He was a very sweet, caring, loving giant,” Shirazi told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That if you really knew him, you’d know who he truly is.”
After making the delivery, Shirazi and Smith drove to Shirazi’s house. Shirazi stepped inside for a moment, came back out and found Smith slumped over in Shirazi’s truck. Shirazi says he does not know Smith’s cause of death but believes it was natural causes.
“He was perfectly fine an hour before,” Shirazi said. “I came out and he was basically dead in my front seat. I’m just in shock.”
Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, a local charity that feeds the homeless, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Shirazi and Smith showed up unexpectedly on Saturday with 10 pizzas.
“My impression was that this is a young man that wanted to help the homeless, which was great,” Wagers said. “When the 49ers and people like that want to help the community, that’s everything.”
Smith reportedly visited the 49ers’ facility to talk to the 49ers’ rookies recently, as part of his efforts to encourage younger players to follow the right path.
Smith was 36 years old.
