Packers get back in the win column against the Bengals
Pete Dougherty joins Dominique Yates to recap the Packers’ 27-18 win over the Bengals.
Za’Darius Smith won’t get another revenge game against the Green Bay Packers after all.
The former All-Pro defensive end, who spent the most productive years of his career in Green Bay, announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Oct. 13, via a post on Instagram.
His retirement comes just over a month after signing for the 2025 season with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles subsequently announced that they have put Smith on the reserve/retired list.
Smith played in five games and started two with 10 tackles and 1½ sacks for the Eagles (4-2) this season. He signed with the Eagles just days before the 2025 season started.
The Eagles began the year 4-0 but have lost their last two games and are coming off a stunning defeat on “Thursday Night Football” to the New York Giants in Week 6.
“I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected,” Smith wrote on Instagram.
“Who would’ve 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 began his career with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Packers in 2019 as a free agent. He would go on to have his best years in Green Bay.
Smith had a career-high 13½ sacks in 2019 and followed it up in 2020 with 12½, the second-highest total in 2020, a year in which he earned his first All-Pro honors. He also had a career-high four forced fumbles and the only two fumble recoveries of his career that season.
However, he suffered a back injury in 2021 and played in just one game.
When the Packers released him after that season, Smith was outspoken with how he felt the organization treated him while out. That led him to sign with the rival Minnesota Vikings so he could play the Packers. Smith went on to post his third double-digit sack total of his career and earned a third Pro Bowl in 2022.
Smith then played for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions in 2023 and 2024.
Smith went unsigned this offseason but found a new home in Philadelphia. He would have gotten the chance to play the Packers again later this season when the Eagles come to Lambeau Field for “Monday Night Football” on Nov. 10.
“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,” Smith wrote. “Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever — and for that, I’m forever grateful.”
He also thanked the fans.
“To every fan from each organization I represented: thank you, thank you, thank you for everything!” Smith wrote.
Za’Darius Smith retires
Here’s Za’Darius Smith’s statement on his retirement:
Za’Darius Smith statsSeasons: 11Games: 145Tackles: 343Sacks: 70½Forced fumbles: 10Fumble recoveries: 2