Eagles Losing Za’Darius Smith Mid-Season To Retirement Sends Fans In Splits – “Took One Hit From Skattebo And Retired”

Za'Darius Smith signed with the Philadelphia Eagles with the hope of having one last crack at winning the Super Bowl.

Eagles Losing Za’Darius Smith Mid-Season To Retirement Sends Fans In Splits – “Took One Hit From Skattebo And Retired”

Za'Darius Smith retires after 6 games (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

When the Philadelphia Eagles decided to let go of most of their veteran defensive stars from their Super Bowl LIX-winning roster, the idea was to help the young stars flourish. Then, just to add a touch of veteran presence, they signed Za’Darius Smith.

The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the champions just a day after their season-opening win against the Dallas Cowboys. The idea was that he would continue the task left behind by the now-retired Brandon Graham, of mentoring the youngsters.

The Eagles knew Za’Darius Smith was long past the days when he used to contribute quite a few sacks. However, experience has its way of impacting a game that would never show on the stat sheet.

Even then, the Alabama native registered 1.5 sacks and 10 tackles in the 5 games he played so far. Those numbers are close to placing him at the top of the team’s production.

The Eagles won their first three games with Za’Darius Smith helping the young pass-rushing unit. Then, they lost their next two. Even though many found fault in the offense’s lack of chemistry, their last game against the New York Giants exposed the defense’s lack of effort.

It is unclear if those losses played a hand or not, but Za’Darius Smith’s latest decision has left the Eagles and football fans stunned. The Kentucky star took to his Instagram page to announce that he was retiring from the game.

Za’Darius Smith expressed his gratitude for the 11 years he spent in the league, and particularly for allowing him and his family to earn enough wealth to take care of themselves for a long time.

Fans lose their minds after Za’Darius Smith retires mid-season

Football fans are accustomed to players retiring earlier than expected, especially if they are struggling with injuries or a lack of playing time. Then, sometimes, they just lose the love for the game and believe they are better off watching from home.

The problem with Za’Darius Smith’s announcement is that he did not mention what led him to take such a decision 6 games into the season. Fans questioned why he would leave a major chunk of the $9 million he could have earned had he stayed until the end of the season.

Some joked that the embarrassment at the hands of the New York Giants might have led him to decide it was time to call on his career. Most likely, that is not the reason, but even then, it is unclear why he would leave, especially when he was playing well.

Fans believe something must have pushed the veteran star to make this decision at this time. Check out examples of those social media reactions below:

Had Za’Darius Smith stayed, he could have mentored the young pass-rushing unit to become better over the years. The Eagles brought him in for that specific role but now find themselves without a veteran presence on defense.

Eagles’ defense has to step up after mistakes against Giants

In Super Bowl LIX, many saw how the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense collectively dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans and analysts expected the young core to take the lead this season.

Eagles defensive linemen Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis
Eagles defensive linemen Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis (Image via Polymarket Football/X)

Despite some early-season mistakes, the unit had done a decent job, contributing to their wins in the first four games. Then in Weeks 5 & 6, it seems they were not as dominating as they were.

Star defensive tackle Jalen Carter did not play in those two games, leaving Jordan Davis to handle the front line. When the duo plays together, they are difficult to contain and routinely cause havoc. Davis alone cannot do the same, even if the other players in the unit support him.

The secondary also struggled against the Giants, routinely losing their wideouts on routes. Losing Za’Darius Smith is one thing, but that cannot be the sole reason for the Eagles’ defensive struggles.

Also Read: