What happened: Za'Darius Smith said he stepped away from football after his mother's doctor told him she had little time left. His grandmother and father died soon after his mother.
Why it matters: Smith has since returned to football with the Atlanta Falcons. He called football his happy place, citing the joy he gets from winning and recording sacks.
By the numbers: Smith has recorded 70.5 sacks, 176 quarterback hits and 87 tackles for loss across 145 games in 11 NFL seasons.
What to watch: Smith's role in Atlanta's pass-rush rotation will come into focus as the Falcons prepare for the season opener.