What happened: The football world is mourning the loss of Aldon Smith, who has passed away at the age of 36. Smith was a transcendental talent who exploded onto the scene in the early 2010s, setting benchmarks for pass rushers that still stand today.

Why it matters: With 14 sacks as a rookie and 19.5 in his second year, Smith's 33.5 sacks in two seasons remains the NFL record. He reached the 30-sack milestone faster than any player in league history, doing so in just 27 games. His combination of size and speed made him arguably the most unblockable force of his era during that historic run.