The Philadelphia Eagles were dealt an unexpected blow with Za'Darius Smith's retirement announcement on Monday. The former Lions defender, who many expected would return to Detroit in the offseason, ended up joining the Eagles before the start of the season. Yet, his stint in Philadelphia only lasted six weeks before the 33-year-old decided to hang up the cleats.
Upon the retirement news, former Lions teammates sent their best wishes to the veteran defender. Richard Silva of the Detroit News compiled some of the comments the players posted on social media after Smith's announcement.
Lions Teammates Share Love with Za'Darius Smith After Unexpected Retirement
Alex Anzalone said that he feels blessed that their paths crossed. David Montgomery called Smith, "one of the coldest I've seen do it," while Al-Quadin Muhammad and Kerby Joseph congratulated their former teammate.
This speaks volumes to the impact Smith had on the team despite being on the roster for only a few months with the Lions. Detroit acquired the three-time Pro Bowler in November 2024 at the trade deadline. He played eight regular-season and a postseason game with the Lions before being released in March as a cap casualty.
Both Smith and the Lions' top brass spoke very highly about each other afterwards, with neither side closing the door on a reunion. Considering Detroit's need for meaningful pass rush additions and its failure to address it in the offseason led to the belief that Smith would return. For his part, the veteran defender emphasized his willingness to play in Detroit for another season. Yet, the sides were never able to agree, and Smith ended up signing with the Eagles in September, days before the start of the season.
What transpired between then and now has yet to be fully publicized, so discussing the real reason for his unexpected retirement would be pure speculation. The Athletic's Dianna Russini, however, suggested that this decision was entirely a personal one and had nothing to do with the chaos the Eagles are currently embroiled in. The locker room drama in Philadelphia may not have been a big factor in Smith's decision, but it likely didn't help to convince him otherwise.
In his message announcing his decision, Smith didn't share too many details about his decision-making process. Instead, he thanked the fans and expressed his gratitude for the time he has shared with different organizations around the league. Lions fans would have loved to see Smith play another season in Detroit and be a part of this team during their Super Bowl run, but they surely wish the best for a player who managed to leave a mark on the organization in such a short stint.