Za’Darius Smith is out of retirement and headed to Atlanta.
The Falcons announced Tuesday that they signed the three-time Pro Bowler after a Monday workout.
Smith, 33, returns to the NFL after retiring last season and joins a Falcons defense dealing with losses at edge rusher.
Falcons Confirm One-Year Deal Worth Up To $8 Million
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith agreed to a one-year deal worth $6 million, with incentives that could raise its value to $8 million.
He played five games and made two starts for the Philadelphia Eagles last season before stepping away.
The signing reunites Smith with Kevin Stefanski, who coached him for two seasons in Cleveland.
Stefanski became Atlanta’s head coach after his firing by the Browns at the end of the 2025 season.
Atlanta had been thin at edge rusher after Jalon Walker suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
The NFL also suspended James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following an offseason arrest.
Smith’s Time With the Lions
Smith’s path to Atlanta included a stint with Detroit.
The Lions acquired Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick from Cleveland just before the 2024 trade deadline, sending the Browns a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Detroit pursued pass-rush help after Aidan Hutchinson sustained a season-ending leg injury.
Smith did not play in his first week with Detroit, but he made his Lions debut the following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and recorded half a sack.
In eight games, including seven starts, he posted 12 total tackles, 10 quarterback hits, four sacks and three tackles for loss.
The Lions released Smith in March 2025 with a $7 million option approaching and a cap hit of nearly $6 million.
The move cleared his void years, salary and other bonuses from the team’s books.
Smith posted a thank-you message to Detroit on Instagram shortly after the release was reported.
Although he said he wanted to return to the Lions, he instead signed with Philadelphia.
A Seventh NFL Stop
Atlanta will be Smith’s seventh NFL team.
In addition to the Eagles, Lions and Browns, he has played for the Packers, Vikings and Ravens, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft out of Kentucky.
Smith earned Pro Bowl honors with Green Bay in 2019 and 2020, then again with Minnesota in 2022.
He spent 25 games with Cleveland before the Browns traded him to Detroit in 2024.
What the Signing Means for Atlanta
The Falcons add an experienced edge rusher after Walker’s injury and Pearce’s suspension left the position depleted during training camp.
Smith’s arrival also reconnects him with Stefanski, the coach he previously played under in Cleveland.
Atlanta announced the signing after Smith’s workout, bringing a veteran defender out of retirement for the 2026 season.
