Three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith coming out of retirement to join Falcons

Three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is coming out of a brief retirement to join the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced on Tuesday. It will be a one-year deal, a team source confirmed.

Smith, who turns 34 in September, spent five games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, collecting 1.5 sacks and three QB hits, before abruptly retiring in October.

The Falcons had a franchise-record 57 sacks a year ago, but their pass rush has taken a beating during training camp. First, Jalon Walker, the No. 15 pick in last year’s draft, was lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Then James Pearce Jr., the No. 26 pick a year ago, was suspended eight games by the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy.

Atlanta is on track to start Cameron Thomas and Samson Ebukam at outside linebacker. The team signed veteran Cam Sample, who started five games for the Cincinnati Bengals over the last five years, last week.

A fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, Smith will be joining his seventh NFL team. He blossomed after leaving Baltimore as a free agent in 2019, collecting 25 sacks and 60 QB hits over his first two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors both seasons and a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020.

He missed all but one game of the 2021 season with a back injury, then rebounded with 10 sacks, 24 QB hits and a Pro Bowl nod with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. Before joining the Eagles last season, Smith spent 25 games with the Cleveland Browns, who traded him to the Detroit Lions at the deadline in 2024.