Former Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith opened up on Wednesday for the first time about why he suddenly retired from the NFL last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith, who is making his NFL return after signing with the Atlanta Falcons last week, shared how he received a call from his mother’s doctor during last season. Smith was informed that his mother didn’t have much longer to live.
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Understandably, Smith wanted to love and care for his mother before she passed. Retirement was the only avenue Smith had. So, Smith retired on Oct. 13 of last season after five games played with the Eagles.
Shortly after his mom passed, Smith’s grandmother and father passed away, too.
“My mom—rest her soul, man. She always wanted me to be in Atlanta with the Falcons,” Smith said.
Smith was born in Montgomery, Ala., so the Falcons aren’t far from where he grew up.
“I can see this as my happy place,” Smith said as emotions overtook him. “But yeah, this is my happy place, man. Come back, play football. I was in a dark place. Coming out, running out on the field, the fans. Not only just the fans, man, the joy that I get from winning and just getting sacks.
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“I started late in high school. My senior year of high school, man, I didn’t know how to play football. My coach always told me just to go get the quarterbacks. So, ever since he told me that, I’ve been good at it. When I retired, I think I had 70 sacks, man, so now I’m trying to reach a hundred. Any way I can get to it would be good. Man, I’m happy to be back.”
Smith, who turns 34 in early September, is a three-time Pro Bowler. The Kentucky alum has recorded 343 tackles (223 solo), 176 quarterback hits, 87 tackles for loss, 70.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in his NFL career. Smith has appeared in 145 career games with 98 starts.
Smith entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. After four years with the Ravens (2015-2018), Smith has made career stops with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Lions.
It was Smith’s connection with Browns general manager Andrew Berry that led him back to football. While the financials didn’t work out with Cleveland, his successful workout with the Browns led to this opportunity with Kevin Stefanski—Berry’s former Cleveland counterpart—and the Falcons.
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During his eight-game stint in Detroit in 2024, Smith recorded 12 tackles, four sacks, three stuffs, and one pass defended while donning the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
Smith signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Falcons.
After the Falcons lost edge rushers Jalon Walker (torn ACL) for the season and James Pearce Jr., who was suspended eight games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Smith is expected to provide some much-needed depth and valuable veteran experience in Atlanta this season.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Former Lions DE Za’Darius Smith details heartfelt NFL return with Falcons
