Veteran NFL linebacker Za'Darius Smith revealed that a profound family tragedy, including the death of his mother, brother, and grandmother, prompted his brief retirement from professional football last year.
Smith, who recently returned to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, shared details of his personal struggles in a press conference this week. He explained that he received a call from his mother's doctor, who informed him that she had limited time left to live. This news led Smith to leave the Philadelphia Eagles, where he had played only five games in the 2025 season, and retire from the sport to be with his family.
"I wasn't supposed to retire," Smith stated. "I wasn't going to tell the story, but I'm going to tell it. I got a phone call from my mom's doctor telling me that she don't have much longer to be on this earth."
He further explained his decision to the Eagles, noting, "I let the team know. Obviously, they weren't trying to let me leave, but that was the only thing I had left - to retire. So, I retired."
In the months following his mother's passing, Smith endured further loss as his grandmother and father also died. "I was in a dark place," he admitted.
Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler who spent a decade in the NFL before joining the Eagles, made a return to professional football earlier this month. He signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons after working out for the Cleveland Browns.
"This is my happy place," Smith said of his return to the field. "Come back, play football. I was in a dark place, but, you know, coming out, running out on the field, the fans - not just the fans, man, the joy that I get from winning and just getting sacks."
The Falcons signed the 33-year-old pass rusher to help fill a need at defensive end, with Jalon Walker suffering a season-ending knee injury and James Pearce Jr. facing an eight-game suspension. Smith was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and has also played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and the Browns during his career.
