Former Eagles linebacker Za'Darius Smith explains retirement decision

Veteran outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith clarified the reasons behind his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Speaking at his first press conference since leaving the team to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, Smith said he stepped away to care for his mother after receiving a call from her doctor indicating she had limited time left.

"I wasn’t supposed to retire," Smith said. "I got a phone call from my mom’s doctor telling me she doesn’t have much longer. I let the team know. Obviously they weren’t trying to let me leave, but that was the only thing I had left — to retire." Smith added that family considerations were the sole factor in his decision, noting that he had not planned to end his career under normal circumstances. The announcement surprised Eagles personnel, who had hoped to retain the veteran presence on their defense. The former Eagles player’s comments come as the team evaluates its roster during training camp, with attention on other positional battles and the integration of new players under head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.