From the NFL to Authentic Mentorship: Aldon Smith's Vulnerable and Transparent Transformation.

Aldon Smith’s journey is one of remarkable transformation. Once slated for the Hall of Fame, his NFL career was sidelined by personal struggles, but today, he’s turned his story into a powerful message. After working on himself and finding sobriety, Aldon has returned to the league not as a player, but as a leader and mentor. Aldon’s ability to open up and be transparent makes him easy to talk to. He shares hard-learned lessons to help young players navigate the pressures of both life and football.

Thanks for joining me. Let's start with a little background about your career for readers who may not be familiar with you.

Sure, my career started after being drafted as the 7th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. I played for the San Francisco 49ers, Raiders, and then the Cowboys. I had a lot of success right away and even broke some records, but I also struggled off the field — mostly with substances and drinking. It got me in a lot of trouble. And while it might sound strange, those struggles got me to where I am today.

I looked up some of your records. You became the fastest player to reach 30 sacks in just 27 games. You broke the record for the most sacks in a player’s first two seasons with 33.5, surpassing Reggie White. You set a 49ers record with 19.5 sacks in a one season, and in one Monday Night Football game, you recorded 5.5 sacks—which is most ever in Monday Night Football history.

You experienced a lot of success early on— How much of that led to your struggles off the field and how different was your experience from other guys coming into the NFL at the same time?

I learned a lot from everything that happened to me and all that I got myself into. The early success was great, but it also came with a lot of pressure and challenges I wasn’t prepared for. I went from feeling unwanted to being wanted by everyone, including strangers, almost overnight. That shift was overwhelming, and it was hard to handle. I put on a persona every day that didn’t really reflect who I was deep down, and that pressure contributed to my problems I experienced off the field.

Now, I’m alive, sober, and in a healthy space. After my career, I really wasn’t sure what to do next, but I knew I wanted to use my experiences to help others. I didn’t want to coach or go into broadcasting like a lot of other athletes so I'm now just focused on guiding others in the right direction using everything I’ve learned--because I know exactly what they're going through.

Tell me more about how you want to use your experience to help support others who are struggling or facing challenges they might not even be prepared for?

Seeking help doesn’t always work the way people think or expect. If you go to someone with an expectation and they don’t meet it, it can actually do more harm than good. That’s why I believe in developing a strong inner relationship with yourself, first— whether that’s found through things like spirituality or building a strong sense of self-awareness. It’s critical because mentors and coaches, they’re human too. They also struggle and their advice is most likely going to be based on their own experiences, and sometimes, that may not apply to you.

I try to help people connect with themselves first. I’m not here to teach or talk at them. I’d rather have real conversations and guide them towards discovering their own path.

Whether in the locker room or wherever I am, people always felt comfortable talking to me. They share things they won’t share with others, probably because I have no problems leading first and being open and vulnerable. That usually makes others feel more comfortable to open up because they recognize I can relate. I’ve taken that natural dynamic approach and combined it with everything I’ve learned. I want to use it all to guide people through difficult times or transitions. And, it’s not just for just for athletes. It’s for anyone — whether they’re struggling with substance abuse, adjusting to a new phase of life, or dealing with the loss of identity after something unknown or major changes their situation in life.

Can you share one of your most bolted down principles?

Honesty and consistency are key. The best leaders I’ve known were open and honest about how they felt, even if it wasn’t always positive. And they were consistent — they didn’t just show up once or twice; they were there week after week. That kind of support matters, especially when you’re in a tough spot.

Also, I’ve noticed that guys leaving the game need this message more than those just starting their career. Everyone’s there for you when you’re starting out, but when you leave, the adjustment is a culture shock — much tougher. You lose an identity that you spent your life creating for yourself, and all the support you’ve always had starts to fade away.

What’s your message about making the investment to work on yourself?

It’s never too late to start, but it’s definitely easier if you begin before you hit a rock bottom. You’ve got to break things down and ask yourself, “Am I where I want to be?” or “What habits or beliefs are holding me back” I like to start small — let go of just one thing, then do another — and gradually, when you look back, you’ll see how far you’ve come.

For me, I had to go through that process alone. After my career ended, I was living in an extended stay hotel in Texas with nothing. Every relationship in my life ended. I stopped blaming anyone else and decided to focus inward. I changed what I was listening to, what I was watching, who I was interacting with — and over time, my mindset started to shift.

What advice do you have for people who want to be more transparent but struggle with it?

You have to get to a place where you’re comfortable with yourself. That’s where genuine transparency comes from. It’s not about preparing for questions or trying to say the right thing. It’s about being at peace with who you are, so you can be open and authentic no matter where you are or who you’re with. That’s the hardest battle, but once you win it, everything else gets easier.

How can people find out more about you and your work?

They can visit IntelligentMovement.co or find me on Instagram at Aldon Smith.

Thanks, Aldon. I appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us. Best of luck as you continue to inspire and guide others on their journeys — both on and off the field.

About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein , a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience as the Founder and CEO of multiple companies. He launched Choice Recovery, Inc., a healthcare collection agency, while going to The Ohio State University, His team earned national recognition, twice being ranked as the #1 business to work for in Central Ohio. In 2018, Chad launched [re]start, a career development platform connecting thousands of individuals in collections with meaningful employment opportunities, He sold Choice Recovery on his 25th anniversary and in 2023, sold the majority interest in [re]start so he can focus his transition to Built to Lead as an Executive Leadership Coach. Learn more at www.chadsilverstein.com

To view more interviews by Chad Silverstein, visit https://medium.com/@chadsilverstein

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