Za'Darius Smith says mother's illness prompted 2025 retirement

His grandmother and father died after his mother

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 271 min read

Za'Darius Smith said he wasn't supposed to retire. He said he got a call from his mother's doctor saying his mom didn't Via @marcraimondi on X

What happened: Smith stepped away five games into last season after a doctor said his mother had little time left, allowing him to spend time with her. He returned to football this month and signed with Atlanta on Aug. 18.

Why it matters: The move gives Atlanta an experienced edge defender ahead of the 2026 season. Smith brings 11 seasons of NFL experience to a younger position group.

By the numbers: Smith has 70.5 sacks, 87 tackles for loss and 11 forced fumbles across 145 career games.

What to watch: Smith is targeting padded practice next week.

Sources

@marcraimondi 2026-08-26T23:51:38.062334+00:00

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