Eagles Edge Rusher Za’Darius Smith Retires After 11 NFL Seasons
Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith announced โhis retirement from the NFL on Monday, bringing an end tooโ an 11-year careerโ that included โฃthreeโค Proโ Bowl selections โฃand 70.5 career sacks. Smith, who joined theโ Eagles after Week 1, led the โteam’s โedgeโข rushers โwiht 1.5 โฃsacks this season.
“I wishโ himโข theโฃ best. I really enjoyed having โhim on this footballโ team while he was onโฃ this football team,” Head Coach Nick Sirianni told reporters monday afternoon.
Smith played for six โคdifferent teams throughout his career, establishing himself as a consistent pass-rushing threat. He finishes his NFL journey having appeared โin 145 regular-season games.
Inโ aโค heartfelt instagram post, Smith reflected on his career, stating, “I knew โฃthis day โwould come – but now that it’s here, I’mโ feeling so many emotions I never expectedโฆ This game has โgiven me the opportunity to meet โคgreat coaches, compete alongside some of the best players ever, andโ represent some of โthe โคgreatest organizations inโฃ the league. Football has transformed my life and my family’s livesโ forever โ-โข and forโค that, I’m forever grateful.”
Smithโ also โขexpressed gratitude to the fans, acknowledgingโข their โsupport throughout his career.”To โthe fansโ – the biggest thank you of allโฆ โFrom wearing my โjerseys, collecting my cards,โข sending โletters, sharing your opinions (good and tough ones โalike), and most importantlyโ – showing love. I felt it all.”
With Smith’s departure,the Eagles’ active edge rushersโฃ are nowโ Jalyx Hunt,Azeez Ojulari,Joshuaโค Uche,and โPatrick โคJohnson. Ogbo Okoronkwo and Nolan Smith are currently on Injuredโค Reserve.
Sirianni expressed โคconfidence inโ the remaining defensiveโ line personnel, stating, “As far as my confidence โฃin the guys there on the defensiveโ line, a lot of confidence in them. I like that position. I likeโ the depth we have at that position. โThe numbers at how โขthey play now will โขbe distributed a little differently.”
