What happened: The family of former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith has retained a team of national civil rights attorneys to investigate the circumstances surrounding his sudden death at age 36. The legal team has been tasked with seeking answers about how the former star died.

Why it matters: The move signals the family's intent to pursue a full accounting of Aldon Smith's death, which stunned the football world earlier this month. Smith was one of the most dominant pass rushers of his era before his career was derailed, and the unanswered questions around his passing have kept the story in the national spotlight.

What to watch: Watch for statements from the family's legal team and any findings from an autopsy or toxicology review. The family has also signaled plans tied to testing Smith's brain for CTE.