Aldon Smith credits late grandmother for helping turn his life around

Aldon Smith is making an unlikely NFL comeback thanks in part to his late grandmother.

Once one of the league’s top pass rushers, Smith’s career fell apart due to his inability to remain sober. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2015, and has faced numerous legal issues and NFL discipline. He has, however, been reinstated for the 2020 season, where he hopes to contribute with the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith said he realized he was “fed up” with living the way he was and sought to change. He did so with some motivation from his grandmother, who died in 2019. Her final wish was for Smith to get his life together.

Cowboys DE Aldon Smith: "I got to a point where I was fed up with how I was living my life, and I knew I needed to change." Grandma, who had ALS, passed last year. Her final message was to "do better" and get what he deserved in life.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 29, 2020

Smith has said he’s a changed man after his numerous brushes with the law. Hopefully he’s right. It would be a very inspiring story if he can stay clean and contribute in the NFL. If he can approach the 19.5 sacks he put up in 2012, that would be even more remarkable.