BroBible
It isn’t quite time to hit the panic button for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. But alarm bells are certainly ringing, and they just got louder on Monday morning.
The Eagles sit atop the NFC East at 4-2, but have lost their last two games, including a surprise upset at the hands of the New York Giants.
One of Philadelphia’s many struggles in 2025 has been its pass rush. The Eagles rank 25th in the league with just nine sacks through six games, and things appear to be getting worse.
With young edge rusher Nolan Smith on the injured reserve list as he recovers from a torn triceps, Philadelphia announced the signing of three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith on Sept. 5.
Smith, 33, made the Pro Bowl in 2019, 2020, and 2022 with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and it appeared through five games in Philly that he still had a bit left in the tank.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound edge recorded 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits in five games with Philly. But on Monday morning, Smith surprised everyone in the football world by announcing his retirement.
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“I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected,” Smith said in a statement on Instagram.
“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.”
Smith isn’t injured. At least, not the Eagles announced. So this move comes as even more of a surprise. And it’s yet another blow to a team that has, thus far, yet to really find its footing in 2025.
The post Philadelphia Eagles Pass Rusher Za’Darius Smith Retires Midseason Leaving Hole In Already Bad Pass Rush appeared first on BroBible.
