Aldon Smith appeared to be in excellent health and showed no signs of illness in the days before his sudden death last week, according to his barber who had recently spent time with him.
Tee Maultsby, who cut Smith's hair and hosts the podcast "Laced Up," told TMZ that the former NFL defensive star was in remarkable physical condition when they last connected. Maultsby said he even joked with Smith recently that he still appeared capable of dominating on the defensive side of the ball.
According to Maultsby, Smith never mentioned any health concerns during their interactions, whether on camera during podcast recordings or in private conversations. The barber emphasized that Smith had been actively working to turn his life around in recent months and was focused on using his platform to advocate for mental health awareness.
Smith was reportedly found unresponsive in a truck shortly before being pronounced dead on Saturday. The discovery came after he had spent the day delivering pizzas to a local homeless outreach organization. His friend, Amir Shirazi, who had accompanied him on the pizza deliveries, later found Smith slumped over in the front seat of the truck.
The circumstances surrounding Smith's death remain under investigation, and a cause of death has not yet been determined. His family has indicated they wish to have his brain tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as CTE, a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head trauma that has been found in numerous former professional football players.
The revelation that Smith appeared healthy and was engaged in charitable work and mental health advocacy in his final days adds a particularly tragic dimension to his unexpected passing. His apparent commitment to helping others and raising awareness about mental health issues underscores the complexity of his final chapter and the shock felt by those who knew him.