Packers 11th all-time leader in sacks may be forced into early retirement

Last season, the Green Bay Packers made one major change on the defensive side of the ball. Ever since the days of Dom Capers, who was the defensive coordinator when the Packers won Super Bowl XLV, the team had utilized a 3-4 front. After firing Joe Barry following the 2023 season, though, Green Bay hired Jeff Hafley to be their defensive coordinator, and he instituted a more traditional 4-3 front seven.

This change, of course, meant the roles of several players changed. Some players who usually lined up on the outside of the 3-4 front were now entrenched up at the defensive line. For some, the change was welcomed. Others, though, did not find the same level of success they had had in the previous scheme.

One of the players who struggled to adjust to the new defensive scheme was long-time pass rusher Preston Smith. After three consecutive seasons of notching 8.0 or more sacks, Smith found himself sitting at 2.5 through the first nine games of the 2024 season.

And while he has nothing but love for the Packers organization, he was not happy with how he was being used. As a result, he requested a trade.

The Packers granted his request and sent him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a seventh round pick. Pittsburgh uses the 3-4 defensive scheme Smith liked to be a part of, so the destination made sense.

Unfortunately for Smith, he was not any more productive with the Steelers than he was with the Packers last season, recording just 2.0 sacks in eight games with them.

After the season ended, Smith was released by Pittsburgh in order to save room on their salary cap. And even though he has been a free agent for months now, he has not generated any buzz on the market.

Ryan Heckman of Lombardi Avenue believes that the lack of interest in Smith from teams around the NFL may indicate that the former Packers pass rusher may be given no choice but to retire.

“At 32 years old, Smith might be done. The Steelers cut him to save some money, chose not to bring him back on a friendly deal and, honestly, it very well could be time to call it a career, barring one more last-ditch effort from a desperate team.”

Smith spent six seasons in Green Bay, recording 44.0 sacks during that time. This places him 11th all-time on the Packers’ all-time sacks list, ahead of notable players like Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Za’Darius Smith and Mike Daniels.