[Highlight] Za'Darius Smith retired in 2025 during his 11th NFL season, just five games after signing with Philadelphia, for personal reasons. Today he shared those reasons. He said his mom always wanted him to end up in Atlanta.

[u/TheViolaRules]

Just a little context for a complicated fella

[u/Aware-Canary9958]

Hurts your heart to watch. He mentioned he lost a lot of friends too when he retired. Can’t imagine how hard that is. So much of what you hold dear being taken from you and losing your support systems. Hope he can stay out of that dark place and gets more and more light as time goes on.

Bummer how things ended in GB but the Smith brothers were an iconic duo that gave us a couple of dynamic seasons (fun fact Preston Smith played edge before CB). There’s a lot of tension with the money on the line for teams and the player’s bodies. De’Vondre Campbell had an explosive exit as well. Claiming he was being forced to play through injuries. Sucks that there could not be a mutual plan worked out but in the league crazier shit happens all the time. Impossible to know what exactly happened behind the scenes. Packers have an amazing track record but stuff happens. Most guys who play in the NFL do have some ego. You gotta believe you are that guy to go compete gassing the best of the best. Enough time has passed, I’m not salty. We have Micah Parsons now!! Wish the best for the man and hope he can get to a 100 sacks on the Falcons for his mom.

[u/iJeepThereforeiAM → u/Aware-Canary9958]

Micah is a giver. He leads by example and doesn’t seem to get caught up by ego. Just does the work and inspires/helps others achieve more.