Za’Darius Smith’s retirement from the NFL proved to be short-lived.
Smith is expected to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns by Monday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Smith worked out for the Browns on Thursday and the two sides immediately had mutual interest in Smith’s return.
Smith previously spent portions of two seasons with the Browns, playing for Cleveland in 2023 and 2024. He had 10.5 sacks in 25 games for Cleveland.
The 33-year-old was supposedly done with football, as he announced his retirement last October after a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. That lasted about eight months, as it has been clear since June that he would be open to playing again.
One might have expected Smith to try to find a better situation than the Browns, who are not expected to be a contender in 2026. However, the team needs significant help in the pass rush after trading Myles Garrett to the Rams. Even if the team is not in a great situation, Smith should have the opportunity to get plenty of playing time.
