Za’Darius Smith was away from football for less than a year, but when he returned it was not with any of the six teams already on his résumé.
The veteran pass rusher signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons after coming out of retirement for just over 10 months.
One of the most moving press conferences I’ve ever been a part of….
Za’Darius Smith retired in 2025 during his 11th NFL season, just five games after signing with Philadelphia, for personal reasons. Today he shared those reasons. Very emotional and said his mom always wanted… pic.twitter.com/d94v3QD3yT
— Kinsey Lee (@kinseyleetv) August 26, 2026
Smith was five games into his 11th NFL season, which began with real promise, when he walked away from the game in October 2025, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Why He Abandoned Them
At the time, Smith didn’t cite an individual incident. He said in an emotional Instagram post that he wanted to protect his long-term health, spend more time with his family and give back to his community in Greenville, Alabama.
He was just 33 years old, and after 11 seasons and 70.5 career sacks, he saw it as a natural place to walk away. The Eagles put him on the reserve/retired list and for a time that seemed like the end of the road.
Why He’s Back Now
Smith’s name surfaced this summer when the Cleveland Browns brought him in for a workout and a deal appeared close. But Atlanta made its move.
The Falcons had lost expected starter Jalon Walker to a season-ending torn ACL and needed a proven pass rusher in a hurry. They made a contract worth as much as eight million dollars, with incentives, after a strong tryout, and Smith signed.
The deal also brings him back together with head coach Kevin Stefanski, who coached him for two seasons in Cleveland before taking over in Atlanta.
What It Means for the Falcons
Smith arrives as the most accomplished pass rusher on the Atlanta roster and with the group already thin at the position, he’s expected to contribute immediately.
He’s not the same player who racked up 10 sacks for Minnesota in 2022 at nearly 34 years old, but he provides the veteran presence the Falcons’ defense lack
It remains to be seen whether this is his last stop or just another detour.
