The Philadelphia Eagles already have plenty of questions to answer following a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants, and now they will have to replace one of their most reliable pass-rushers. Former Second-Team All-Pro defensive end Za’Darius Smith stunningly announced his retirement via an Instagram post on Monday.
“Who would have thought that a kid from Greenville, AL, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years,” he wrote, per insider Dianna Russini.
“This game has given me the opportunity to meet great coaches, compete alongside some of the best players ever, and represent some of the greatest organizations in the league. Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever – and for that, I’m forever grateful.”
The 2015 fourth-round draft pick, who attended East Mississippi Community College before enrolling at Kentucky, also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions. He signed with the Eagles after their season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys and immediately made an impact on the edge. Smith recorded one and a half sacks, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and a 79.0 defensive grade with the team, according to Pro Football Focus.
Considering the 33-year-old’s production, a midseason exit is hard for many fans to grasp. But not everyone wishes to wait for Father Time before hanging up their cleats and pads.
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