Disruptive Former Viking Calls It Quits
A member of the 2022 Minnesota Vikings has retired — all of a sudden. Za’Darius Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles said goodbye to the league on Monday after quite the journey around the NFL.
Former Vikings pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retired on Monday, ending an 11-season career that most recently featured a stop in PHI.
Smith played for the Vikings in 2022 before venturing to a few more teams. He’ll make Philadelphia his final stop after entering the business with the Baltimore Ravens as a 4th-Round pick in 2015.
Sayonara to Ex-Viking Za’Darius Smith
Six teams later, Smith hangs up his cleats.
Za’Darius Smith Retires Midseason
Smith’s career is over.
ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote Monday, “Eagles veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith announced his retirement on social media Monday. Smith informed the team of his decision Monday morning, a league source said, marking a sudden departure for a productive player at a position of need for Philadelphia. The Eagles came into the season with question marks at edge rusher following the departures of Brandon Graham (retirement) and Josh Sweat (free agency).”
“The position took a further hit when Nolan Smith Jr. was placed on injured reserve in late September with a triceps injury. Ogbo Okoronkwo was also placed on IR with a triceps injury after their Week 4 game against the Tampa Bay Bucs. Philadelphia signed Za’Darius Smith to a one-year, $4.25 million contract following its Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He made an instant impact, posting 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits and two tackles for loss over five games.”
Smith had played 131 defensive snaps for the Eagles so far this season, so his retirement is particularly noteworthy from an operational standpoint. It’s also worth noting that Minnesota plays that very Philadelphia team this weekend.
All She Wrote on a Career Spanning a Decade
The timing is a bit unusual for retirement — most do so during the offseason — but Smith can look back on a long career and rejoice. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler (2019, 2020, and 2022) and ends his career with 70.5 sacks.
The fiery combatant was never shy around anyone or anything, and Smith wound up achieving full-time staying power as a starter for seven seasons from 2018 to 2024.
Here’s his resume:
- Baltimore Ravens (2015–2018)
- Green Bay Packers (2019–2021)
- Minnesota Vikings (2022)
- Cleveland Browns (2023–2024)
- Detroit Lions (2024)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2025)
The guy was one Bears contract away from the NFC North grand slam quartet.
First a Foe — Then a Friend
On Sundays from 2019 to 2021, Vikings fans hated Smith. That was the prime of his career, and anytime Kirk Cousins was under center for Minnesota, Smith seemed to fire off a fantastic performance.
So when Smith opted for free agency in 2022, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swooped, the same purple fans welcomed him with open arms. They’d no longer have to worry about his quarterback terrorism on the other side of the field.
Smith played marvelously in Minnesota for the 2022 season’s first half before running out of steam late. Some called that pattern his modus operandi. When the 2023 offseason arrived, Smith tweeted out of nowhere a “Thank you to Vikings fans” on social media, which caught onlookers off guard because Smith was still very much under contract. He got his way, though, and the Vikings shipped him to Cleveland for late-round pick swaps.
Eagles DEs without Smith
Sans Smith — and against Minnesota this weekend — Philadelphia will showcase these EDGE rushers:
- Azeez Ojulari
- Jalyx Hunt
- Joshua Uche
- Patrick Johnson
- Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Practice Squad)
- Nolan Smith (IR)
- Ogbo Okoronkwo (IR)
On an ordinary NFL team, this group would be called an emphatic weakness. Regarding the Eagles, however, most shrug their shoulders and think, “Dah well. They’ll figure it out.”
With the NFL’s trade deadline three weeks away, the Eagles could very much be in the market for an EDGE rusher or two.
The Announcement from Smith
Smith left the big leagues with this heartfelt note on Instagram:
I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected. Who would’ve thought that a kid from Greenville, AL, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years! This game has given me the opportunity to meet great coaches, compete alongside some of the best players ever, and represent some of the greatest organizations in the league. Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever — and for that, I’m forever grateful.
This career has taken me across the world — from earning my first passport stamp to visit countries I only saw on maps, to helping me start a foundation that gives back to my community. There have been challenges along the way, but the rewards have outweighed them all and helped me learn, grow, and evolve as a man.
“…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…” – Luke 12:48
And to the fans — the biggest thank you of all. To every fan from each organization I represented: thank you, thank you, thank you for everything! From wearing my jerseys, collecting my cards, sending letters, sharing your opinions (good and tough ones alike), and most importantly — showing love. I felt it all. As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me. The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.
Smith turned 33 last month.
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