An already deep Seahawks pass rush added another accomplished player on Thursday with the signing of veteran defensive end Aldon Smith.
Smith, 31, revived his career with the Dallas Cowboys last year after being suspended the previous four seasons due to legal and substance abuse issues. After getting sober and being reinstated by the NFL, Smith had an impressive return nearly five years removed from his last game, starting all 16 games for the Cowboys and recording 5.0 sacks, 48 tackles and a team-high 14 quarterback hits.
"It's been a journey that's been filled with ups and downs," Smith told Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer after signing with Dallas last year. "During the journey, there have been some self-inflicted wounds, but in the process, I came out with a better understanding of who I am and what I want from my life. It gave me a greater appreciation for the game I've been blessed to play."
Smith, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2011 draft, was a dominant force early in his career with the 49ers, recording 14.0 sacks and 27 quarterback hits as a rookie. The following year Smith earned Pro-Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, recording 19.5 sacks, 66 tackles and 29 QB hits. Smith added 8.5 more sacks in 11 games in 2013.
Smith joins a Seahawks pass rush that looks to be even deeper and more talented than the group that produced a league-high 34 sacks over the last nine weeks of the season. The Seahawks did lose their top interior pass rusher when they released Jarran Reed, but they have re-signed Carlos Dunlap II and Benson Mayowa; added Kerry Hyder Jr., who led the 49ers in sacks last season with 8.5; and they should be adding to the rotation 2020 second-round pick Darrell Taylor, who missed his entire rookie season with a leg injury. And, of course, there's also safety Jamal Adams, who led the team in sacks last year with 9.5, a record for defensive backs since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
A look back at defensive end Aldon Smith's first six seasons in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks signed the former All-Pro on April 15, 2021.
Defensive end Aldon Smith, center, the first-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, holds up a jersey next to head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, and general manager Trent Baalke at a news conference at the team's training facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers' Aldon Smith performs a drill during NFL football training camp on Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the NFL regular season game on Sunday Sept. 18, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (28) carries as San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) tackles in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) runs on field during an NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks in San Francisco, California October 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) salutes the Armed Forces on Veterans Day after a sack during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, in San Francisco. The game ended in a tie, 24-24. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, NOV. 9-10 - FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2013, file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith fields questions in the team's NFL football practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers have reloaded coming out of their bye week. All-Pro linebacker Aldon Smith is returning after a five-game absence to receive treatment for substance abuse. Wide receiver Mario Manningham is healthy again going on 11 months after a devastating, season-ending knee injury. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) sacks Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during an NFL football game at FedEx Field on Monday, November 25, 2013 in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) jogs on the field before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013 in San Francisco, CA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith talks with reporters during a news conference on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in New Orleans. The 49ers are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game on Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) rushes during Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers against the Baltimore Ravens on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, LA.(AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, left, runs a drill with linebackers coach Jim Leavitt during an NFL football training camp on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) lines up across from Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during an NFL game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, December 28, 2014. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 20-17 in Week 17. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) runs against Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross (69) during an NFL divisional playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, January 12, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. San Francisco won 23-10. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith (99) warms up before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith (99) celebrates a sack against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, November 8, 2015, Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Raiders 38-35. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith (99) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, left, exchanges jerseys with Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith after an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith (58) during an NFL football training camp Friday, August 14, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith (58) pressures Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Cowboys, 20-17. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) talks with defensive end Aldo Smith (right) before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Cowboys, 20-17. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith (58) returns a fumble for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
