Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith (September 25, 1989 – June 13, 2026) was an American professional football player who was an outside linebacker and defensive end for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection with the 49ers in 2012. He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks.
Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith was born on September 25, 1989, in Greenwood, Mississippi. He attended Raytown High School in Raytown, Missouri, where he played for the Raytown Bluejays high school football team. As a senior, Smith recorded 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks, while adding seven forced fumbles, a blocked punt, and a safety on defense. On offense, he had 34 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end.
Considered only a three-star recruit by the Rivals.com (now just known as Rivals) recruiting network, Smith was considered the No. 5 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri as well as the No. 27 strongside defensive end in the nation. He chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas, and Kansas State, among others.
Smith played for the Missouri Tigers football team under head coach Gary Pinkel while attending the University of Missouri from 2008 to 2010. After being redshirted as a freshman in 2008, Smith started 11 of 13 games at defensive end in 2009. He finished the season with 60 tackles and 11 sacks. Smith was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first-team Freshman All-American. As a sophomore in 2010, he played in nine games, recording 48 tackles and six sacks.
After the season, Smith announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL draft.
2009 First-team Freshman All-American (College Football News, Phil Steele)
2009 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (Associated Press)
2009 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (Coaches)
2009 Hendricks Award Watch List
2009 Second-team All-Big 12 (Associated Press)
2009 Honorable mention All-Big 12 (Coaches)
2009 Team Defensive Lineman of the Year Award
2009 Team Freshman of the Year Award
Playing as a defensive end at Missouri, Smith was considered a "DE/OLB prospect" by most NFL scouts and was considered a strong edge run defender as 4–3 end or 3–4 linebacker. Many scouts compared him to DeMarcus Ware. Prior to the 2011 NFL draft, Smith was projected to be selected in the mid-late first round by mock draft analysis.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Smith in the first round with the seventh overall pick.
Smith did not start but made his NFL debut in the season-opening 33–17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, recording a pass deflection. Three weeks later against the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith had five tackles and his first 1.5 sacks on Michael Vick in the narrow 24–23 victory. Over the next two weeks, Smith would win the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week in victories against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions after recording two sacks in both games. After a strong October, Smith became the first 49ers player since linebacker Patrick Willis in 2007 to earn the NFL Rookie of the Month award; Smith recorded 13 tackles and 6.5 sacks, including one that forced a safety as he helped the 49ers to a 6–1 record.
During a Week 13 26–0 shutout victory over the St. Louis Rams, Smith recorded three tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. In the next game against the Arizona Cardinals, he had four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble during the narrow 21–19 loss. The following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, Smith recorded four tackles and 2.5 sacks in the 20–3 victory. He also surpassed Charles Haley for the 49ers record for most sacks by a rookie in a single season with 13.
Smith finished his rookie year with 37 total tackles, 14 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 16 games. He was half a sack shy of tying the all-time rookie sack record held by defensive end Jevon Kearse despite not starting a single game as a rookie. Smith was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Writers of America, and finished second to Von Miller for the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Smith was also named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.