People are searching Za’Darius Smith’s name today because the veteran pass rusher just came out of retirement and signed with a new NFL team. This guide pulls together his verified background, career timeline, and the facts behind his current comeback story, all checked against reliable sources.
Background: Who Is Za’Darius Smith?
Za’Darius Smith is an American football defensive end and linebacker who has played in the NFL since 2015. He built his reputation as a physical, high-motor pass rusher, earning three Pro Bowl selections and one Second-team All-Pro nod during his career. Fans know him best for his standout years with the Green Bay Packers, where he racked up 26 sacks across the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
He is searched heavily right now because of a fast-moving offseason storyline: he retired in October 2025, then reversed course less than a year later and returned to the league in August 2026, this time with a brand-new team.
Latest Update
Za’Darius Smith has signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The deal was reported by multiple NFL insiders and later confirmed by the team itself on the morning of August 18, 2026. The contract carries a base value of roughly $6 million, with performance incentives that could push it up to about $8 million for the 2026 season.
This move followed a whirlwind week. Smith worked out for the Cleveland Browns on August 13, and reports suggested he was close to re-signing with Cleveland, the team he played for from 2023 into the 2024 season. Instead, he pivoted, visited the Falcons, and signed with Atlanta a day later. Part of the appeal appears to be a reunion with head coach Kevin Stefanski, who coached Smith in Cleveland and now leads the Falcons.
Smith had announced his retirement from the NFL in October 2025 while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, after appearing in just five games that season. The Eagles placed him on their reserve/retired list, and he was released from that list in June 2026, which opened the door for his return.
Quick take: No scandal, injury crisis, or legal issue is driving this search spike. It’s a straightforward NFL comeback story: a veteran pass rusher un-retiring and picking a new team.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Za’Darius Smith was born on September 8, 1992, in Montgomery, Alabama. He grew up in Greenville, Alabama, and attended Greenville High School. Interestingly, he did not play organized football until his senior year of high school. Before that, basketball was his main sport. Some online profiles describe details about his parents’ names, but these are not confirmed by major sports outlets, so they should be treated as unconfirmed.
Career Path
Smith played two seasons at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to the University of Kentucky, where he became a standout defensive player in the SEC. The Baltimore Ravens picked him in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. From there, his career took him through six different NFL organizations, each stop adding to a career total of 70.5 sacks across 145 regular-season games.
| Team | Years | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 2015–2018 | Started career as a backup outside linebacker |
| Green Bay Packers | 2019–2021 | Two Pro Bowl seasons; Second-team All-Pro in 2020 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2022 | Third Pro Bowl selection |
| Cleveland Browns | 2023–2024 | Traded midseason to Detroit in November 2024 |
| Detroit Lions | 2024–2025 | Brought in to help after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury; released March 2025 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2025 | Retired in October 2025 after five games |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2026–present | Signed a one-year comeback deal in August 2026 |
Age
Za’Darius Smith is 33 years old as of this writing and turns 34 on September 8, 2026.
Religion
Smith’s religious beliefs are not documented in any verified source. This detail is unconfirmed and should not be assumed one way or another.
Spouse/Partner
Smith’s relationship status is not clearly confirmed by reliable outlets. Some entertainment sites report he is single and raising children, and there has been unverified chatter linking him to public figures in the past, but none of this has been confirmed by Smith himself or by credible news organizations. This should be treated as unconfirmed rather than fact.
Net Worth
Smith has earned an estimated $79.1 million in career NFL salary heading into the 2025 season, based on reporting from sports outlets tracking his contracts. Specific net worth figures circulating online vary widely and are not independently verified, so treat any single net worth number as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.
Parents
Names attributed to Smith’s parents appear on lower-authority fan sites but are not confirmed by Wikipedia, major sports outlets, or Smith’s own public statements. This detail is unconfirmed.
Height
Smith is listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) tall and weighs around 270 pounds (122 kg), according to his official NFL and Pro Football Reference listings.
Education
He attended Greenville High School in Alabama, then played college football at East Mississippi Community College from 2011 to 2012 before transferring to the University of Kentucky, where he played from 2013 to 2014.
Hometown/State of Origin
Smith was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and was raised in Greenville, Alabama, where he still identifies as being “from” in his own public statements.
Official Social Media
You can follow Za’Darius Smith on X (formerly Twitter) at @zadariussmith, listed as his official account.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Is Za’Darius Smith still playing in the NFL?
Yes. After retiring in October 2025, he came out of retirement and signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on August 18, 2026.
Why did Za’Darius Smith retire?
Smith announced his retirement in October 2025 while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, citing the emotional weight of ending an 11-year NFL career. He did not cite a specific injury or scandal as the reason.
What team does Za’Darius Smith play for now?
He signed with the Atlanta Falcons on August 18, 2026, on a one-year deal worth up to about $8 million with incentives.
How old is Za’Darius Smith?
He was born on September 8, 1992, making him 33 years old as of this writing, with his 34th birthday coming later this year.
How many sacks does Za’Darius Smith have in his career?
He has 70.5 career sacks across 145 regular-season games, spread over stops with the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions, and Eagles.
Is Za’Darius Smith married?
His relationship status is not confirmed by credible sources. Reports about a wife or partner remain unverified, so this should not be treated as settled fact.
Where did Za’Darius Smith go to college?
He started at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to the University of Kentucky, where he played from 2013 to 2014.
Wrap-Up
Za’Darius Smith’s story right now is really about persistence and second chances. He walked away from football in the middle of a season, then less than a year later decided he wasn’t done, worked out for two different teams in the span of a week, and landed with a franchise led by a coach who already knows what he brings to a defense.
What makes this update worth tracking is how quickly it moved. A Sunday workout with Cleveland turned into a Monday visit with Atlanta and a Tuesday morning signing, all within one week in mid-August 2026. For a player entering his 12th NFL season, that kind of demand from multiple teams says something about how much value pass rushers with his track record still hold in the league.
As with any fast-developing sports story, some personal details about Smith’s family life and finances remain unconfirmed. This article will hold those claims at arm’s length until they’re verified by credible reporting, rather than repeating numbers and names that can’t be traced back to a reliable source.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.