Za’Darius Smith says he retired from NFL to be with his dying mother
TheGrio...
After losing his mother and other family members, the three-time Pro Bowler says football became his “happy place” again.
Za’Darius Smith says his sudden retirement from the NFL last season was not about football. The veteran pass rusher stepped away so he could spend time with his mother after receiving a call from her doctor saying she did not have much longer to live.
Smith explained the decision during his first press conference since joining the Atlanta Falcons, NBC Sports reported. He said his mother’s doctor told him she did not have much longer to live, leaving retirement as the only way he felt he could get away from the Philadelphia Eagles and be with her.
“I wasn’t supposed to retire,” Smith said, adding that the Eagles did not want him to leave when he informed the team of the family situation.
Smith announced his retirement in October 2025 after five games with Philadelphia. He had signed with the Eagles the previous month and recorded 1.5 sacks before unexpectedly walking away.
His mother died not long afterward. Smith said his grandmother and father also died soon after, losses that left him in what he described as a dark place.
Football eventually became part of his way back.
“This is my happy place,” Smith said while becoming emotional about his return. He described the joy he gets from running onto the field, winning games and recording sacks.
Smith’s retirement lasted roughly 10 months. Philadelphia released him from its reserve/retired list in June, making him a free agent. He worked out for the Cleveland Browns and said he expected to return there, but the financial offer did not meet his expectations.
Atlanta signed the three-time Pro Bowler on Aug. 18. The Falcons needed pass-rush help after Jalon Walker tore his ACL and Pearce received his suspension.
The move also carries a family connection. Smith, who is from Alabama, said his mother had always wanted him to play for Atlanta because it was closer to home.
Smith enters his 12th NFL season with 70.5 career sacks after previous stops with Baltimore, Green Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. His comeback now gives him a chance to continue the career he temporarily left behind for the person he said mattered more.