Za'Darius Smith encouraged to consider return from NFL retirement
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 11:04 PM
Last updated Jul 9, 2026
Za'Darius Smith, a former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman, retired last year after a short stint with the team. He joined the Eagles in September 2025 but retired before the season's halfway point. An NFL writer has suggested that Smith might consider unretiring, particularly since he is now a free agent after being released by the Eagles. Despite unsolicited encouragement for his return, Smith has not indicated any plans to return to the field at this time.
- •Za'Darius Smith retired from the NFL last year after five games with the Eagles.
- •He recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks during his brief Eagles tenure.
- •Smith was released from the reserve/retired list last month and is now a free agent.
- •Smith's retirement decision was personal and not team-related, according to sources.
- •There is no indication from Smith about a potential return to football.
- 11:04 PMYahoo Sports — Ex-Eagles Player Encouraged To Reverse Shocking NFL Retirement
"One NFL writer would like to see a former Philadelphia Eagles player return to the field after a shocking retirement last year. The post Ex-Eagles Player Encouraged To Reverse Shocking NFL Retirement appeared first on HEAVY.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
FootballNFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:20 PMNFL insider makes bold prediction for Dolphins QB in 2026- FootballNFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:20 PMHere's the latest update on Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks' Week 1 status
NFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:19 PMJaxson Dart is ranked second among last year’s rookies, but fails to crack Top 20 in The Athletic’s QBI metric
NFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:07 PMCowboys, Chiefs not on surprising NFL top 10 list
NFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:03 PMSean McVay reveals huge update on Puka Nacua's status ahead of Week 1
NFL•Sep 7, 2026, 4:02 PMGeorge Kittle, Sam LaPorta and more TE injury updates going into Week 1