Donte Whitner Calls for Answers in Aldon Smith’s Death, Points to Former 49ers Teammates

The sudden death of former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Aldon Smith has taken another turn. His old teammate Donte Whitner is now speaking out publicly and calling on the family’s lawyers to dig deeper.

Whitner addressed the tragedy on his The Grit Code Podcast. He described receiving text messages, phone calls, and FaceTime videos from former teammates in the hours after Smith died on June 13, 2026. What he saw left him shaken.

What Whitner Said on The Grit Code Podcast

Whitner did not mince words. He said the material shared among ex-teammates disturbed him deeply.

“The day that Aldon died, I received text messages, phone calls, FaceTimes from some of our ex-teammates, and some of the s*** that I saw was f****** disgusting.”

He specifically pointed to former 49ers safety C.J. Spillman, who called him early that morning.

“C.J. Spillman called me… and he put me on FaceTime, and he was showing me pictures of Aldon slumped over in the front seat. Aldon laying on the ground in front of the vehicle that he was traveling in… pretty much deceased.”

Whitner said he saw Anthony Davis in some of those images, looking over Smith. He stressed that he does not believe Davis played any role in what happened, but he believes people who were present that day have information the family deserves.

“First and foremost, C.J. Spillman should have a lot of answers for you. And Anthony Davis as well. Anthony Davis was in the pictures looking over Aldon. So I want to say that he probably didn’t have anything to do with it, but whoever was there, they had something to do with it.”

Whitner also revealed he had tried reaching out to Smith earlier in the year. He sent a text on February 1 asking how he was doing and even asked another former teammate, Ian Williams, for Smith’s current number.

What Is Confirmed About Aldon Smith’s Death

According to the San Francisco Chronicle and multiple reports, Smith was found unresponsive in the passenger seat of a white Chevy pickup truck in Los Gatos, California. The driver was his friend Amir Shirazi.⁠Sfchronicle

Shirazi told the Chronicle that he and Smith had spent part of the morning delivering pizzas and food to a local charity that feeds the homeless. After running errands, they stopped at Shirazi’s house. Shirazi stepped inside briefly. When he returned, he found Smith slumped over and unresponsive. He thought it might have been a seizure or heart attack. He called 911 and also reached out to former 49ers running back Anthony Dixon for help with CPR. Smith was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.⁠Instagram

Shirazi has said he believes the death was from natural causes. So far, authorities have not publicly stated that anyone else was present at the exact moment Smith became unresponsive. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the death but said the cause and manner remain pending while toxicology and other tests continue.

Family Launches Its Own Investigation

Smith’s family has hired attorneys Harry Daniels, Bakari Sellers, and Wayne Kendall to investigate the circumstances. The family has also sent Smith’s brain to Boston University’s CTE Center for examination.⁠USA Today

In a statement, the legal team said they intend to get answers about what happened to the 36-year-old former All-Pro.

Smith’s Bright Start and Painful Struggles

Smith burst onto the NFL scene with the 49ers in 2011. He recorded 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons and looked like one of the most disruptive edge rushers in football. Injuries, legal troubles, and battles with substance abuse and alcoholism cut that trajectory short. He played for several teams but never recaptured the early dominance.

In recent years Smith had spoken openly about his personal demons and his desire to rebuild. His decision to spend his final hours helping feed people experiencing homelessness stood out to many who knew him.

Whitner’s decision to go public with what he saw adds another layer to an already painful story. Old teammates seeing graphic images of a fallen brother being passed around hit hard. The 49ers organization and the broader NFL community have expressed shock and grief since the news broke.

Questions Remain

Whitner’s comments do not prove foul play. They do raise legitimate questions about why photos and videos of Smith in those final moments were taken and shared so quickly among people who were not first responders. The family’s legal team now has a clear public signal about who Whitner believes may have relevant information.

The medical examiner’s full findings, including toxicology, are still weeks or months away. Until then, the questions Whitner voiced on his podcast will continue to echo.