The Never-Ending Spiral of Aldon Smith

Aldon Smith blazed into the NFL as one of the most talented pass rushers seen in years, racking up statistics at edge to rival fellow 2011 draftees JJ Watt and Von Miller and even then some. But as those peers have cemented their Hall of Fame resumes over the past two decades, Aldon Smith has been relegated to a footnote in NFL history. While many know about Smith's reputation for off-field issues, this video attempts to unpack them all so you can understand what happened to Aldon Smith.

[@corngreaterthanwheat]

Smith's personal issues are one of the greatest LTs of all time.

[@rawchickensandwich]

🤣

[@kyddopeness]

Hilarious

[@ronanmusic118]

😭😂

[@TJHigham]

🤣🤣🤣

[@MrFinster53]

Im not even done with the video, I just face palmed so hard at the "they dont know its me, its not like I put Aldon Smith" 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@demetriusmiddleton1246]

I literally laughed out loud at that part.

[@mr.merritt7125]

This isnt real life, smh.. Seeing how this man walked off in slow motion from being interviewed i knew he was a lil slow

[@supastar25]

I actually literally facepalmed too

[@Hookiedookie123]

I swear to God I heard that shit and was like bruh. Man out here dry snitching on himself

[@lucidcactus3280]

That’s like cartoon level stupidity

[@lendon01]

every year i forget Aldon Smith exists and then i remember like once a year, same with Rolando McClain

[@TheTEN24]

Those names definitely go together Lmao

[@dsbeats5657]

Lol all ex cowboys too

[@aaron.6923]

@@dsbeats5657 yeah but they still played good 👍

[@ShadySportsNetwork]

Or Josh Gordon

[@diggsfather]

i remember rolando mcclain for his beast 2014 season with the cowboys

[@franciscogaskin5138]

At this point I’m fine with him playing or not, either way I just want him to get help and overcome his demons

[@petermoore7796]

wow quite a hard-line stance

[@xxeman445xx]

@@petermoore7796 ??? What a pointless comment, absolutely pathetic waste of time and I’m upset you’ve made me read it

[@BrandonA1]

@@xxeman445xx What is your problem? You got that angry over a 5 word response

[@xxeman445xx]

@@BrandonA1 can’t you read I got upset not angry Also it’s hyperbole dawg

[@BrandonA1]

@@xxeman445xx Stay mad

[@faulknersealock5575]

Sad thing is every time I've heard him actually speak he comes across as a decent dude that's just struggling with his own demons and losing

[@djtrankilo231]

Same feeling I have towards Josh Gordon

[@buklau6953]

both on the hawks and rly coulda contributed a lot 😭😭

[@chrishandsome4267]

Sounds like myself

[@NbaCortez]

@@djtrankilo231 josh gordan didn’t do nothing wrong he just smoked weed

[@NbaCortez]

@@gotshmoked1764 what da hell I ain’t no demon I’m Christian and smoke weed

[@SuperHorseSense]

The 2012 49ers had what probably was the best linebacker group of all time: Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, and Ahmad Brooks. Smith, Willis, and Bowman all were 1st team all pro while Brooks was second team. Hell now that i think about it, they probably had the best front 7 of all time considering the d-line was Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, and Isaac Sopoaga. I was shocked when they lost the superbowl to the Ravens.

[@robertgoodwin2787]

Yeah they had a killer d...and randy moss! How do you lose that game to joe flacco lol

[@cinemapigeon4898]

@@robertgoodwin2787 Anquan Boldin on multiple 3rd downs 1 on 1 kept catching the ball, because he's a grown man. 49ers also couldn't stop a nosebleed defensively in the first half, and offensively were doing stupid things. Rookie LaMichael James (bust, shouldn't have been in the game)) fumbled, Kap threw to Randy Moss a bit too high (Moss might have been able to jump for it) and got intercepted by Ed Reed. The 49ers very first offensive play was an illegal formation. Like 2 weeks to prepare and an illegal formation is the first play you call? Despite all that 49ers were eventually doing everything needed to win, Frank Gore had a crazy run to bring it to the goal line end of 4th quarter, and big boy Haloti Ngata of the Ravens was out of the game injured, so Ravens couldn't stop the run anymore, but then for whatever reason the 49ers decided to not give Frank Gore the ball and the rest is history. Absolutely terrible.

[@antoniorenteria6799]

A few things go differently and we’d be considering the niners as an all time great defense

[@samuelwilliams3044]

That team should’ve had at least 1-2 ships smh

[@musclenugget92]

Because Kaepernick is an awful quarterback and Greg Roman is an awful OC

[@sgtjarhead99]

The sad part is that you know there's a lot of other players with demons just like Aldon, only because they don't have his talent, they're not given 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chances to blow away.

[@sjbrooksy45]

That is any profession really. People with skill or talent get chances others don't.

[@alexg9601]

I mean... Makes sense, how do you give second chances to someone with no talent?

[@kennethbryant5819]

True, too. I still wish them all the best. Same with Josh Gordon. Dude has gotten way more chances than he deserves.

[@B3Band]

What's sad about that? None of them deserve it. If anything, it's sad that he's even getting these extra chances.

[@Thecoochincanoocheecreek]

I know people with similar struggles, similar chances just different job. “Regular” people are given chances and choices in life too.

[@clapdrix72]

If it's true the guy he beat down assaulted his pregnant sister, I give him a full on pass for that.

[@edwardthibodeaux8815]

Me to

[@TaylorDurda]

@@edwardthibodeaux8815 *too. But me as well

[@SeahawksBamBamKam]

Me to since I'm a Hawks fan but I doubt the law and NFL will see it that way.

[@WearingGoldluck]

I don’t give him a full pass, but he would get minimum time if I were the judge. Now, if he wanted to plead self defense (or defense of his sister) and could prove that, then he’d get off scott-free.

[@clapdrix72]

@@WearingGoldluck I meant morally and if I were Goodell. Legally, I think that could be a strong case ... but something tells me the sister thing is greatly exaggerated. More than likely, the guy bumped her too hard on purpose, or something equally shitty but far short of the psychotic assault he claims. The truth will come out soon I'm sure.

[@matt15]

As a 49ers fan, he was so damn good man, it really sucks seeing him spiral like that

[@jeremiahrogers8734]

Justin Smith was a big help with that.

[@juancena2149]

For real that team was loaded and I really thought it would work

[@armandorodriguez6447]

Yep, I was a big fan of his. Sucked to see him go back then

[@nathanchildress5596]

Had to get this to 99 likes. What a badass he was as a 49er, I hope he turns it around

[@jabobok786]

Bruh it blows my mind when top paid athletes get popped with DUIs, like ffs pay someone to drive you around. And if someone really did put hands on his pregnant sister I’m sure he could have got some goons to do it for him 🤦‍♂️

[@smilegate3148]

Aka Marvin Harrison. His bar’s security camera when offline during the 2 mins the dude he had beef with got murdered outside his bar

[@extraordinarilybasic3250]

They are privileged as fuck, most think and prolly do get away with them.

[@feck2594]

I can not understand it either, why take the risk. Heck personally if i had tons of cash I would have a chauffeur at all times. I hate driving anyways .

[@ebotfu]

also illegal my guy

[@gregpenismith1248]

@@ebotfu cool story

[@raheim21]

Media ain't shit. Dude was clearly still intoxicated.

[@supastar25]

Why didn't he have a lawyer present there...or someone...anyone with him to take him away from that circus...

[@s1dwyz732]

So your telling me in a 24 hour time period flemlo, kto, and set the edge uploaded? Let's go

[@BoleDaPole]

Keep simping bro, maybe one day they'll notice u 😅🤣

[@williehardiman6766]

@@BoleDaPole do you just wake up on negative shit?

[@Born2ShitForced2Wipe]

KTO is boring nowadays.

[@Glanboy3]

Bruh subbing to all 3 and seeing them all post is a dream come true

[@0rganfarmer]

@@Born2ShitForced2Wipe Agreed KTO lacks the insight other channels have. KTO was one of the OGs though.

[@johnl.7754]

With how much he could have made he should have hired himself a private Chauffeur.

[@jcore0981]

Yeah but that's nowhere near as fun as endangering yourself and others! Gotta partttyyyy!

[@Strongbah43]

Cowboys dodged a bullet, a lot of our fans wanted him resigned, glad our organization put faith in Gregory instead.

[@lebronjericho6008]

Uhhhhh I guess you guys did but y’all should’ve traded him at the deadline and got some picks lol

[@rjante2236]

He looked good for the first month and I really thought he may have turned a corner

[@darrickbeitinger7664]

Seahawks only signed him to a $1.1 million deal… it wasn’t exactly a gamble

[@joshuastephens6048]

@@lebronjericho6008 jerry gambled on him being worth more by the end of the season. If traded by the deadline cowboys weren’t going to get more than a 5th rounder.

[@__yklim]

Too bad that's the only good thing "your" organization has done lmao

[@Hidingfrompeople]

As an alcoholic, I can't even imagine the shit I would get into if I was given millions at a young age. I probably would be dead in all honesty.

[@faulknersealock5575]

Prayers sent hope you beat your addiction

[@TrillBill]

Yikes

[@Hidingfrompeople]

@@faulknersealock5575 Thanks. Im functional though, you know? I've just embarrassed myself and made lots of bad decisions. Functional, not proper...

[@Hidingfrompeople]

@@TrillBill It happens.

[@TrillBill]

@@Hidingfrompeople I know, man. Hope you're doing better.

[@innout6707]

Always a great watch. Thank you!

[@Jack-si4oi]

That 2012-13 Niners defense was something special.

[@adammaxwell5250]

Excellent!!!...Your back!!!... Been a while...

[@michaelkeller5927]

A surprise to be sure but a welcome one

[@HCHS2017]

Man he really went full Shaggy defense on the reporter interview

[@Brycesjones1]

Just want to say I can tell the effort you put into your videos and it’s very appreciated

[@JayP80Geno]

Man, being a Niners fan in the Harbaugh era was so much fun and also incredibly frustrating. That defense was so great to watch.

[@Warmaker01]

I still maintain that 2012, Harbaugh should have put Alex Smith back in to start after his return from concussion protocols. Smith was doing exceptionally well that season and was continuing his improvement from 2011 as a QB. Sharp contrast to before where 49er fans were burning his jerseys and sports stores couldn't clear his jerseys even with clearance sales. But in 2012 he was among the top performing QBs, efficiently driving the offense.

[@mrsmax3071]

It's hard to watch people self destruct over and over. Great video.

[@caraxkins]

addiction can happen to anyone. hope everyone reading this is doing well🌞.

[@calebwinfield1403]

Hitting a fat line while I read your comment

[@chance2413]

@@calebwinfield1403 I'm jealous. Everything out on the streets these days is a bunch of bulshit cut with more bullshit

[@briankoski817]

I think that I've got cirrhosis of the liver.. Ugh! I'll try get a blood test tomorrow.

[@Patman494]

"those who throw their careers away with ill-thought out decisions" *shows Aaron Hernandez* Understatement of the year lol

[@youngtate3891]

Man, my heart dropped when you showed Blackmon. Dude could've been a great but he liked the drink too much.

[@jraybay]

Blackmon and Josh Gordon always get me. They had all the tools to be superstars

[@chrish813]

So glad I found your channel

[@MiguelGonzalez-qb1pw]

Praise be to STE for the 2am upload

[@romain8390]

3am ET, his time.

[@MiguelGonzalez-qb1pw]

@@romain8390 either way it’s late up in this bitch

[@sircrumpets_]

That last line. Dude, you need to be making documentaries for some sports media. So incredible.

[@jimbeaux89]

You’re blessed with INSANE talent and abilities and you’re literally throwing it all down the shitter.

[@alexandervarga6949]

49ers aldon smith was insanse.

[@fenleydorismond2889]

They don't know it's me,it's not like I put *proceeds to state his name* Jesus that was dumb

[@3ShadesBlack5]

...you left out the part where he was talking not knowing he's being recorded

[@Ziomel1]

Negative IQ plays

[@steelycubsfan3460]

everytime a youtuber advertises manscaped: the best one yet.

[@lofttm969]

“It’s not like it says Aldon Smith” Lmfao this guy is not smart enough to have the devils lettuce as a recreational habit.

[@coltoncrawford3914]

Remember watching aldon in his first few years. Man he was fun to watch. Sad to see how it ended up for him.

[@charlesburroughs9770]

Great Closing Line!!!

[@jordancorley828]

Excellent ending to a fantastic video

[@SFforlife]

It’s a sad story. I’ve seen it over and over again to family and friends who’ve struggled with addiction and mental health. Aldon Smith was so exciting and had so much going for him back in those early years with the Niners. I had his jersey and everything. I hope he figures himself out. I’d like to see him succeed in the NFL, and in his life, again.

[@floridagator1765]

This is really scary. Honestly! That interview WAS frightening!!

[@michael-pe5ml]

how does this man still have a drivers license lmao

[@devinm9245]

The hardest part about overcoming addiction is moving past your old 'friends'. sounds simple enough, if people are continuously putting you in harms way to avoid them. However personal relationships are rarely that simple, think about all the fun times and sad times you spent with your best mates, and saying to yourself I need to be alone now and for the next few years because I made poor decisions, it almost seems ultra selfish and in truth it is. this is only one of the reasons addiction conquers, we are emotional creatures.

[@mcfrisko834]

Can confirm. 😕Hope he gets help

[@theOptimisticRealist]

the craziest part about his story is how all of the off-the-field issues NEVER directly affected his actual play on the field. many professional athletes demand a life with very little distractions so they can excel in their given sport. it’s pretty impressive that he was able to put up that kind of production while dealing with everything going on outside of the game.

[@kalel33]

Not crazy. Most serial killers are normal everyday citizens and go to work like everyone else, with no inkling of how they are, even to family members, in regards to their demons.

[@mcfrisko834]

@@kalel33 But those types of people tend to exhibit signs of ASPD so they don't tend to get stressed under pressure.

[@Alvy541]

It would be wild to see him with the same mind and work ethic off the field as JJ Watt.

[@YOSSARIAN313]

@@kalel33 Smith isn't a psychopath

[@kalel33]

@@YOSSARIAN313-ignoring social norms and laws, or breaking rules at school or work, overstepping social boundaries, stealing, stalking and harassing others, and destroying property -dishonesty and deceit -difficulty controlling impulses and planning for the future, or acting without considering the consequences -aggressive or aggravated behavior, including frequent fights or physical conflict with others -disregard for personal safety, or the safety of others -low empathy and emotional intelligence -difficulty learning from mistakes -lack of concern for the safety of others -a tendency to intimidate and threaten in order to maintain control If it walks like a duck, quakes like a duck, it's a duck.

[@guyfieri9913]

Set the Edge dropped a banger 🔥🔥🔥

[@joey8878]

Nice vid

[@johnnypotatoes7897]

I remember him from madden a few years ago. He was a beast on my ultimate team.

[@prodnukq]

video glitches but W

[@SetTheEdge]

first comment! pretty sure it's a glitch with the upload since on my end I don't have any issues. I'll keep an eye on it tho

[@vandercooks]

Such a sad story man

[@michealosikomaiya1398]

There's a video of him celebrating a sack by jumping up and sprinting off the field and just sitting down. It came from him getting in trouble with the team the week before for a penalty for celebrating. The man at times really tried to do better. The amount of talent just wasted is so frustrating. He could have been a 100 sack player, a DPOY, and top four defensive player from one of the greatest drafts ever.

[@miketaz5548]

I was so hyped for that niners d in 2012 we had the Smiths on the d line Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman at line backers and damn I'm drawing a blank on our secondary lol cause our front 8 was so good.

[@gafredaltamirano1893]

You could tell by the way he was talking in that interview he was intoxicated 11:19

[@lucasjacobs2928]

Perfect time to upload for us viewers in europe.

[@tzviperlman27]

3am upload let’s GO!!!

[@noodkiller123]

As a hawks fan I was really looking forward too seeing him. It sucks it didn’t work out

[@BirdGang6]

One of the most physically gifted players to ever play defensive end. Breaks my heart to see him squander it all

[@ericbegan]

the 3am upload🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

[@JawaPenguin16]

Just brutal to see a man with that kind of talent make mistake after mistake after mistake. I hope for the best.

[@heuthao7027]

If I remember correctly, Aldon Smith off field issues started way before he entered the league. He didn’t have the right upbringing and support as a kid. As a Niner fan, it was sad that his career and life spiraled. I remember other 49ers players trying to help, but at the end, there is so much you can do.

[@B3Band]

He's not the first athlete to have a rough upbringing. He's not the first black man to have a rough childhood and make it out of the hood. No excuse.

[@chadwickhayes8260]

@@B3Band he moved from Iowa to raytown 😂 raytown is no where near the hood I was there with him it’s a lower middle class place

[@r21gamer]

Good Morning everyone, we have a nice early video to start our day 😀

[@Warmaker01]

I got to 11.5 minutes into the video and I couldn't continue. As a 49er fan this was painful. Watching Aldon Smith play like he did in his full season as starter was amazing and I had high hopes it would continue. Be the guy that the 49ers could build the defense around for years and years to come. First incident? Don't be stupid, learn from it, and move on. But then more and more stuff started popping up as time went on to the point the legal issues became overwhelming. I've seen athletes look like a great future is there for the taking but get denied from doing so for a variety of reasons. They can't sustain the performance as the other teams learn to be prepared against them. Or maybe a bad injury makes them a shadow of what they were. Aldon Smith did none of that. He basically was a fool off the field to the point he lost his career over it. He was from the same NFL draft that brought in JJ Watt and Von Miller. Both stayed in the league and would go on to be spectacular defensive stars. Where would Aldon Smith be had he not been so stupid off the field? We'll never know of course, Smith basically took himself out of the game.

[@qtpqtpqtp]

This video is insane

[@kylecramer8489]

That last line. Oof. Great writing

[@ofclown9458]

if youre making vids about great edge players that had something hurt their career, id love to see a derrick thomas video

[@a-to-the-j-87]

I really enjoy the music. Anyone knows the name of the song at the end of the video?

[@ultimatefoe]

I wanna know too

[@andrewv.9142]

gotta love the sheer defeatedness of the news reporter lmao "he said he had a bomb... in an airport"

[@satanspit4101]

That clip of him at the 10:50 mark. Listening to him really made my stomach drop. I could hear the embarrassment and shame in his voice. In my younger days. I got in alot of trouble from drinking. To the point I was kicked out of the miltary. I got alot of chances. I just kept doing stupid shit over and over. After a dui I was out. Even that didn't stop me from drinking and doing crazy shit. I got a second dui a year after kicked out. So many times I knew when drinking. Some bad shit was going to happen. I drove drunk thousand plus times. I got stabbed all kinds of shit happened. The thing that slowed me way down. Was one night I was drunk. Had argued with my gf. I wanted to call her to say sorry. I was out of minutes on my phone. My roommates daughter was there. Had a driver permit. Said she would drive. My drunk ass was like cool. Got to Walmart. Got my minutes. Freaked out about her driving me drunk. Said I should drive. On the way home. A cop got behind me. My stomach dropped. He followed for a mile. Turned off. I swore than I would never drink and drive again. Over ten years I still haven't. I barely drink anymore. I really hope aldon has had his moment. That gets him to stop. I'm lucky I didn't kill somebody. Or die myself.

[@drewnice2345]

Think you might be shadow banned bro I haven’t been seeing your content and I have notifications on

[@toualee1430]

Could’ve been a first ballot HOF. Such a sad story. I hope and pray that he gets the help he needs. Such a big what IF.

[@LAKingssince]

It's a shame with what happened with him. So much potential but just couldn't keep it together. I hope he is doing better today.

[@tylop2841]

Is that Kahoot! music in the background?

[@TheSkrumpy]

alright so a manscaped partnership with a channel called “set the edge” is pretty great..

[@paulb4241]

He was awesome when he first came out. I hope it all works out for him in the end

[@MrJIMMYDANUB]

As a niners fan, even since he hasn’t been with the team…it is just so frustrating to watch that kind of talent get squandered

[@chuckdontjudge]

"It's not like I posted my phone number and home address, I only said my name, don't trip" 🙄😂😂

[@Draithian]

Aldon had the luck of rushing behind Justin Smith who would take double and triple teams, without him leading the way his first year numbers would have been less then half.

[@4dhumaninstrumentality789]

Justin Smith did his job and so did Aldon. He likely would have done the same with Buckner or Bosa. He’s a freak of nature.

[@Flyinclutchman206]

He’s going to do great this year

[@theconductor20]

He closed that distance so quick at 4:30

[@noahshaultz1730]

That livestream from 2016 was fucking hilarious!!! “No one knows” 😂😂

[@CamberRockerCamber]

Man....... he sounds like a good dude who just has a lot of demons he's battling. I hope he finds the help he needs.

[@huddlelatestmedia7274]

Um good morning everybody, heres Set The Edge annual monthly video

[@Air_OK]

the song at start samples the kahoot song lmao

[@avery465]

I never realized how talented he really was

[@kaimcdragonfist4803]

“It’s not like I put Aldon Smith.” *Curb Your Enthusiasm theme plays*

[@assassin415]

this man was freaking unstoppable freaking 20 sacks in his first season as a starter

[@uhhangel]

babe wake up, i know its 1am but set the edge just posted

[@freedomworks3976]

Sad situation 😢 can't stop drinking 😢

[@ARealGamerGrill]

Anyone can change. But it's so hard to do and it's also hard to identify so I guess only time will tell

[@daltonv5206]

"one of the most bizarre headlines before the 2019 AB era" 🤣🤣🤣 true

[@topjefe5521]

Damn Aldon man

[@kaybevang536]

Y’all should also see Flemo raps vid too it’s also a good vid

[@Jason-gt2kx]

So sad.

[@mattkrause1573]

That transition to Jerry Jones was beautiful 😂.

[@Vladpryde]

LMAO, I know right? That man would sign the Devil himself if he thought he could get away with it.

[@TheLaundryGuy32]

Ad is over at 3:02

[@mmacaine]

Last night, I was thinking about Aldon Smith. I kept thinking "man. What a wasted potential."

[@bobbyspivey3721]

10:37-11:35 may be the hardest minute to watch on all of KZbin. Yeesh. Aldon, just decline to answer, man.

[@snafuperman]

we need guys like him. cause guys like me who keep going in and out of jail and prison have a character relatable.

[@justfikseth2457]

Would be interesting to do a video on Aaron Hernandez. As a Patriots fan (yes I am, please don’t judge or attack me for that) I always wonder what could have been if he hadn’t did what he did. But I also wonder why he did it. Would be interesting to do. Oh and I am a big fan. I haven’t missed a single video since discovering this channel.

[@SetTheEdge]

I appreciate that a ton man. I've always wanted to do a Hernandez video, especially since I was a UF fan growing up. At this point in terms of my channel in specific tho, I feel like the majority of the story has been told, esp bc Netflix has a great documentary on the saga that covers most everything.

[@landonkirchner7062]

Wow typical Patriots fan...lol

[@unpricedhydra3492]

if aaron hernandez never killed oden i really dont know if gronk is as good as he was because he was actually really good and i think brady liked him alot so

[@JonathanMcDonald26]

He was my favorite player

[@3ShadesBlack5]

Its not like i put Aldon Smith on there....he said this not knowing he's being recorded

[@lamardavis9567]

Dude I respect the early grind but go to sleep bro😂

[@DAatDA]

I feel bad for Aldon, but I feel way worse for the millions of people who can't even get a minimum wage job because of their demons. This dude gets his life together for a few months and gets handed a million dollars. Many people won't make that their whole lives.

[@0rganfarmer]

He’s also probably gonna blow it before 40

[@LostBoysBasketball]

I’m feelin that pain rn, but ‘tis life. Cats like Aldon probably need something traumatic to happen to truly reform, sad to say. Hope that doesn’t have to happen

[@zion3987]

Not the Kahoot song