Eagles’ Za’Darius Smith announces sudden retirement, depleting edge-rusher room – The Athletic – The New York Times

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Eagles edge rusher Za'Darius Smith said he is ready to "step into the newest season of my life" upon announcing his retirement. Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
By Brooks Kubena, Dianna Russini, Zach Berman and Devon Henderson
Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Za’Darius Smith announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday morning. It was sudden news from the 33-year-old veteran, who played five games with the Eagles after signing with them on Sept. 5.
“I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected,” Smith wrote. “As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me. The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.”
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Smith’s decision, which he informed the team of this morning, was a personal one and did not have anything to do with the Eagles, according to a league source.
 
 
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Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, was one of the NFL’s top free agents available when he joined the Eagles. He signed an incentive-laden one-year, $4.25 million contract that would have hit a maximum of $9 million within a range of five sacks up to 15 sacks. He reached 1.5 sacks in five games and two starts.
Smith’s retirement reduces the depth of the Eagles’ edge-rusher room, which was already lacking. Starter Nolan Smith and backup Ogbo Okoronkwo are on injured reserve with triceps injuries. Nolan Smith is expected to return around the Week 9 bye, and Okoronkwo is out for the season.
With Za’Darius Smith’s departure, the Eagles have four edge rushers — Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Patrick Johnson and Azeez Ojulari — on their active, 53-man roster.
The Eagles typically carry five edge rushers on game days. General manager Howie Roseman is now in a spot where he must consider making an addition. They could promote their sixth-round pick, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, from the practice squad, but such a move doesn’t suggest the Eagles would make up for the proficiency they are losing with Smith’s retirement.
Smith led the room with 1 1/2 sacks. Patrick Johnson is the only other edge rusher to record a sack.
Smith’s announcement comes just four days after the Eagles’ 34-17 loss to their division rival, the New York Giants.
He played two years at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to Kentucky in 2013 for his final two collegiate seasons. His 6 1/2-sack campaign earned him third-team All-SEC honors as a junior.
The Baltimore Ravens drafted Smith in 2015, and he spent his first four NFL seasons with them. After his rookie deal expired, he entered free agency and signed with the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, $66 million contract that included a $20 million signing bonus and $34.5 million guaranteed. His career took off with Green Bay.
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After never posting a 10-sack season in Baltimore, Smith recorded a career-high 13 1/2 sacks in his first year with Green Bay, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He followed with a 12 1/2-sack campaign in 2020, again making the Pro Bowl and being named second-team All-Pro.
In 2021, Smith suffered a back injury that required surgery, causing him to miss nearly the entire season.
After a falling out with the Packers over how the injury was handled, Smith signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. He made the Pro Bowl after recording 10 sacks.
Smith was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2023 before a midseason trade to Detroit in 2024. He finishes his career with 70 1/2 sacks and 343 tackles with six different teams over 11 years.
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