Za’Darius Smith Reveals Emotional Family Reason For Retirement And Return to NFL

Za'Darius Smith, a 34-year-old pass rusher, has returned to the NFL after officially retiring last October. His decision to leave the sport was due to the personal reason of being with his ailing mother, who had passed away shortly after his grandmother and father. Smith recently revealed that his late mother's wish for him to be in Atlanta with the Falcons played a significant role in his return to the team.

The Falcons signed Smith not only for his Pro Bowl selections but also for the renewed energy he claims he has returned with. Smith explained that he was struggling mentally before deciding to come back to playing. He stated that the joy of winning and making sacks is what drives him now. Despite turning 34 in early September, Smith still believes he has plenty of energy left in his career.

He has recorded 343 tackles over his career and is aiming to reach a milestone of 100 career sacks, having sat at 70.5 sacks when he retired. Smith's return to the Falcons has been described as a homecoming, bringing a hungry player with a personal reason to win to a team that could use the edge rusher.