Newly signed Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Za'Darius Smith opened up Wednesday about why he suddenly retired last October after playing just a few games with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I wasn't supposed to retire. ... Got a phone call from my mom's doctor telling me that she don't have much longer to be on this Earth," Smith said, according to Atlanta News First's Kinsey Lee. "So, I let the team know. Obviously, they weren't trying to let me leave, but that was the only thing I had left - to retire. So, I retired."
Smith added that his father and grandmother also died shortly after his mother's passing. The veteran pass-rusher went on to say that he got a call from the Cleveland Browns this summer, which sparked his return to the NFL. Smith ended up signing with the Falcons after failing to work out a contract with the Browns.
"This is my happy place, man - come back, play football," he said while holding back tears. "I was in a dark place, but coming out, running out on the field, the fans - not just the fans, man - the joy that I get from winning and just getting sacks."
Smith played over 38% of Philadelphia's defensive snaps in five contests last season, recording 10 tackles, three quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. His 10 pressures during that stretch ranked second among all Eagles edge rushers, according to TruMedia.
The 33-year-old joined the Falcons on a one-year, $6-million contract a couple of weeks after second-year pass-rusher Jalon Walker suffered a torn ACL during practice. Smith is now projected to play a significant role for Atlanta's defensive unit.
Smith has earned three Pro Bowl nods during his 11-year career, registering 87 tackles for loss and 70.5 sacks in 145 games.
