- Named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season and for the first time as an original selection after tying for No. 4 in the NFL with 12½ sacks.Â
- For the first time in his career, earned second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press in 2020, becoming the first Packers linebacker to be named All-Pro since Clay Matthews in 2012.
- Led the team and ranked in the top 10 among NFL linebackers in 2020 in sacks (12½, t-No. 2), QB hits (23, No. 2) and tackles for a loss (12, t-No. 6).
- Registered a sack in 10 games during the 2020 regular season, tied for No. 1 in the NFL for the 2020 season and for the most by a Packer in a single season (LB Tim Harris, 10 games in 1988 and 1989).
- Selected to the 2020 All-NFC team by the Pro Football Writers of America.
- After recording a total of four forced fumbles in the first five years of his career (2015-19), was tied for No. 3 in the NFL with four forced fumbles in 2020.
- Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career after the Week 4 win over Atlanta in 2020 when he registered three sacks. Is the only player in the league to have a three-sack game in each of the last three seasons (2018-20).
- Made his first career Pro Bowl in his first season with the Packers, an injury replacement for Chicago Bears LB Khalil Mack.
- Started all 16 games in 2019 and posted a career-best 78 tackles (44 solo), a career-high and team-leading 13½ sacks (No. 6 in the NFL and tied for No. 5 in a single season in team history), a team-best 51 QB hits and a team-high 65 QB pressures.
- His 13½ sacks were the most in franchise history by a player in his first season with the Packers.
- Posted four games with two-plus sacks in 2019, tied with Cardinals DE Chandler Jones and Buccaneers LB Shaquil Barrett for the most in the league, and became the first Packer to have four games with two-plus sacks in a season since DE Aaron Kampman in 2006.
- Joined LB Preston Smith (12) as the first duo in NFL history with 12-plus sacks each in their first season as teammates, the first tandem in team history (since 1982) to both register 12-plus sacks in the same season.
- Part of only the second tandem in Packers history (since 1982) to each have 10-plus sacks in a season (Reggie White, 13.0 and Bryce Paup, 11.0 in 1993).
- According to NFL Next Gen Stats, led the NFL with 84 disruptions (combined total of hurries, pressures or sacks – one per play) during the 2019 regular season. Also ranked No. 2 in the NFL with a QB pressure rate of 14.8% (total number of pressures divided by the total number of pass-rush snaps) and with a disruption rate of 17.5% (total number of disruptions divided by the total number of pass-rush snaps) among players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.
- Signed with the Green Bay Packers as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2019, after spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played in 58 games with 15 starts and posted 119 tackles (71 solo), 18½ sacks, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a blocked FG.
- Registered 52 QB hits from 2015-18 (per Sportradar), the most on the Ravens over that span.
- Appeared in all 16 games with eight starts in 2018 and posted 45 tackles (26 solo) and a team-leading 8½ sacks for a Baltimore defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in overall defense (292.9 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (17.9 ppg).
- According to Sportradar, ranked No. 3 among NFL linebackers with 25 QB hits and was tied for No. 6 in total pressures (sacks/hurries/knockdowns) with 35 in 2018.
- Of his 18½ sacks during his time in Baltimore, 12½ of them came on third down, the most on the Ravens from 2015-18.
- Was selected by the Ravens with the first pick in the fourth round (No. 122 overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft.
2020: Named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year and was named second-team All-Pro by AP for the first time...Also selected to the All-NFC team by the Pro Football Writers of America...Started all 16 contests and was tied for No. 4 in the NFL with 12½ sacks and tied for No. 3 with a career-best four forced fumbles (most by a Packer since LB Julius Peppers posted four in 2014)...Led the team and ranked in the top 10 among NFL linebackers in QB hits (23, No. 2) and tackles for a loss (12, t-No. 6)...Also posted 52 tackles (35 solo), two passes defensed and two fumble recoveries...Was the first Packer with 12-plus sacks and four-plus forced fumbles in a season since DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in 2002...Was one of six NFL players with 12-plus sacks on the season...Became the first Packer to have five sacks in the first four games of the season since Matthews (seven in 2012)...Started both postseason contests, posting five tackles (three solo), a sack, a tackle for a loss and two QB hits...At Minnesota (Sept. 13): Posted two tackles (both solo), a sack, a tackle for a loss and a QB hit. It marked the fourth year in a row he recorded a sack in the season opener. Is one of three players (Bears DT Akiem Hicks and Cardinals LB Chandler Jones) to register a sack in Week 1 in each of the last four seasons (2017-20). Midway through the first quarter, sacked QB Kirk Cousins on third-and-8 for a loss of 7 yards, forcing a punt. The Packers' ensuing drive started on the GB 40-yard line and resulted in a TD to take an eight-point lead...Vs. Detroit (Sept. 20): Registered four tackles (three solo), a sack, a tackle for a loss and two QB hits. Took down QB Matthew Stafford on second-and-six in the second quarter to force a third-and-16 from the Detroit 1-yard line, and then on third down, tackled RB Adrian Peterson after a 4-yard gain to force a punt. The Packers' ensuing drive resulted in a TD and put Green Bay up, 17-14...At New Orleans (Sept. 27): Recorded two tackles (one solo) and forced and recovered a fumble of QB Taysom Hill at the GB 43-yard line early in the fourth quarter...Vs. Atlanta (Oct. 5): Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career (2018) after leading the team with eight tackles (six solo), three sacks, four tackles for a loss and five QB hits. It was the third three-plus-sack game of his career (3½ at Minnesota in 2019 and 3.0 at Tennesssee in 2018)...At San Francisco (Nov. 5): Posted two tackles (both solo), a sack, two QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense. In the third quarter, forced a fumble he recovered on a sack of QB Nick Mullens to give GB the ball at the SF 47-yard line...Vs. Chicago (Nov. 29): Posted two tackles (one solo), a sack, a forced fumble and three QB hits. Late in the second quarter, forced a fumble on QB Mitchell Trubisky that was picked up and returned 14 yards for a TD by LB Preston Smith to give the Packers 27-3 lead...Vs. Philadelphia: Finished with three tackles (two solo), 1½ sacks, a tackle for a loss and a QB hit. Teamed with P. Smith to sack QB Jalen Hurts for a loss of 3 yards on second-and-10 from the Eagles' 41-yard line with GB up seven with just under four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Eagles did not convert the third-and-13 and punted. Green Bay scored a TD on the ensuing drive to go up by 14...Vs. Tennessee (Dec. 27): Registered two tackles (one solo), a sack, a QB hit and a forced fumble. In the second quarter, forced a fumble on a sack of QB Ryan Tannehill on third-and-17, forcing a punt...Vs. L.A. Rams (NFC Divisional, Jan. 16): Tallied a tackle (solo), a sack, a tackle for a loss and a QB hit on 45 snaps. Early in the second quarter, sacked QB Jared Goff for a loss of 7 yards to force a third-and-14 the Rams did not convert...Vs. Tampa Bay (NFC Championship, Jan. 24): Recorded four tackles (two solo) and a QB hit. On third-and-9 at the GB 47-yard line with just over two minutes to play in the second quarter, hit QB Tom Brady on a throw that fell incomplete, forcing a punt.
2019: Started all 16 games and posted a career-best 78 tackles (career-best 44 solo), a career-high and team-leading 13½ sacks, a team-best 51 QB hits and a team-high 65 QB pressures...Ranked No. 6 in the league in sacks, and his sack total ranks tied for No. 5 in single-season team history...Posted the most sacks in franchise history by a player in his first season with the Packers...Was named to his first career Pro Bowl when he was added to the roster as an injury replacement for Mack...Posted four games with two-plus sacks, tied with Jones and Barrett for the most in the league...Was the first Packer to have four games with two-plus sacks in a season since Kampman in 2006...Joined P. Smith as the only teammate duo in the league with 12-plus sacks each, the first duo in team history (since 1982) to both register 12-plus sacks in the same season…Started both playoff games and registered nine tackles (five solo), two sacks, a team-high six QB pressures and three QB hits…At Chicago (Sept. 5): Posted five tackles (four solo), a sack, a team-best four QB pressures and a team-high six QB hits. Late in the second quarter, drove back RT Bobby Massie to get to Trubisky for a 1-yard sack…Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 15): Finished with seven tackles (three solo), a team-high six QB pressures and two QB hits…Vs. Denver (Sept. 22): Registered five tackles (two solo), seven QB pressures, two QB hits and two sacks. On a third-and-goal from the 2 late in the first half, beat LT Garett Bolles to bring down QB Joe Flacco for a 10-yard sack as the Broncos were forced to settle for a field goal. On the final play of the game, shed a block from LG Dalton Risner to bring down Flacco for a 12-yard sack…At Dallas (Oct. 6): Posted four tackles (three solo), two sacks, a team-high six QB hits and three QB pressures. In the first quarter, drove back LT Cameron Fleming on his way to a 10-yard sack of QB Dak Prescott on third down to force a Dallas punt. On a second-and-goal from the Green Bay 9 in the third quarter, tossed aside Fleming to get to Prescott as he tripped him up for a 9-yard sack…Vs. Detroit (Oct. 14): Tied for the team lead with seven tackles (three solo) while adding a sack, five QB pressures and three QB hits. Late in the first half on a third-and-13, beat LG Kenny Wiggins and then shed a block from RB Kerryon Johnson to get to Stafford for a 5-yard sack to force a punt…At Kansas City (Oct. 27): Recorded three tackles (two solo), two sacks, three QB hits and a QB pressure. On the first play of the second quarter, blew by LT Cam Erving to get to QB Matt Moore for a 6-yard sack. On the Chiefs' first drive of the second half, beat LG Martinas Rankin to bring down Moore for a 12-yard sack on third-and-7 and force a Kansas City punt…At L.A. Chargers (Nov. 3): Finished with a career-high 10 tackles (five solo), a sack, two QB hits and two QB pressures. On the Chargers' opening drive on second-and-goal from the 9, drove back RT Sam Tevi to get to QB Philip Rivers for a shared 2-yard sack with DL Tyler Lancaster…Vs. Carolina (Nov. 10): Posted season highs for QB hits (eight) and QB pressures (seven) along with two tackles (one solo)…At San Francisco (Nov. 24): Finished with seven tackles (five solo), 1½ sacks, two QB pressures and a QB hit. Early in the second quarter, drove back LT Justin Skule to get to QB Jimmy Garoppolo for a 10-yard sack. Shed a block from Skule early in the third quarter for a shared 9-yard sack of Garoppolo with P. Smith…Vs. Washington (Dec. 8): Registered five tackles (four solo), a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, three QB pressures and two QB hits. In the second quarter, came up the middle to drill RB Adrian Peterson in the backfield and force a fumble, one that was recovered by Peterson at the Green Bay 32 for a loss of 3 yards...At Minnesota (Dec. 23): Posted a career-high 3½ sacks, the most by a Packer since Matthews registered 3½ vs. Chicago on Sept. 13, 2012. Finished the game with eight tackles (six solo), five tackles for a loss, a team-high six QB pressures and two QB hits. Midway through the second quarter, beat LT Riley Reiff to get to Cousins for a 13-yard sack. In the third quarter, came up the middle and blew by C Garrett Bradbury to trip up Cousins for an 8-yard sack. Late in the fourth quarter, drove back Reiff to bring down Cousins for a shared 4-yard sack with P. Smith. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, came on a stunt and drove back Bradbury on his way to bringing down Cousins for a 9-yard sack…Vs. Seattle (NFC Divisional, Jan. 12): Posted three tackles (two solo), two sacks, a team-high five QB pressures and three QB hits. On Seattle's opening drive of the game, got past LT Duane Brown to trip up QB Russell Wilson for a zero-yard sack. Midway through the second quarter, blew by RT Germain Ifedi to bring down Wilson for a 4-yard sack. Teamed with P. Smith (two sacks) to become just the second duo in franchise history (Neal and Perry at Washington in 2016 playoffs) to both register two-plus sacks in the same postseason game.
2018: Appeared in all 16 games with eight starts and posted 45 tackles (26 solo) and a team-high 8½ sacks…Added a team-high 25 QB hits, two passes defensed and a forced fumble…According to Sportradar, ranked No. 3 among NFL linebackers in QB hits and was tied for No. 6 in total pressures (sacks/hurries/knockdowns) with 35…Posted 7½ sacks on third down, tied for No. 3 in the NFL behind only Rams DT Aaron Donald (8½) and Seahawks DE Frank Clark (eight)…It was the most sacks on third down by a Raven since LB Elvis Dumervil (eight) in 2014…Also started in the Ravens' playoff game and posted a solo tackle…Helped Baltimore rank No. 1 in overall defense (292.9 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (17.9 ppg)…Vs. Buffalo (Sept. 9): Registered five tackles (four solo), tying for the team lead, with a sack and two tackles for a loss as the defense limited the Bills to just 153 yards of total offense. Brought down QB Josh Allen for a 4-yard loss on a third down in the third quarter to force a three-and-out…Vs. Denver (Sept. 23): Posted two tackles (one solo), a sack and a team-high four QB hits. Sacked QB Case Keenum on a third down late in the first quarter to force a Denver punt…At Cleveland (Oct. 7): Recorded a season-high six tackles (two solo) and a half-sack…At Tennessee (Oct. 14): Produced five tackles (four solo), a season-best three sacks and a forced fumble for a defense that posted franchise records for sacks (11) and passing yards allowed (51) in the 21-0 victory. Became the seventh Raven to record three-plus sacks in a game and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. All three of his sacks came on third down, including a strip-sack of QB Marcus Mariota in the second quarter that Mariota recovered…At Atlanta (Dec. 2): Posted a sack, bringing down QB Matt Ryan for an 11-yard loss on third down in the second quarter, as the Ravens allowed just 131 yards, the fewest by an Atlanta team since 1999…At L.A. Chargers (Dec. 22): Registered five tackles (four solo), a team-best four QB hits and 1½ sacks as the defense limited the Chargers to a season-low 198 total yards. Brought down Rivers for an 11-yard loss on a third down in the fourth quarter to force a Los Angeles punt.
2017: Played in 14 games with four starts and posted 24 tackles (15 solo), 3½ sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed...Ranked No. 3 on the team with 16 QB hits…Was inactive for two contests due to injury (Week 2, Week 14)…At Cincinnati (Sept. 10): Registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Andy Dalton for a 9-yard loss on third down on the opening drive in the 20-0 win…At Oakland (Oct. 8): Recorded a season-high four tackles (one solo)…At Cleveland (Dec. 17): Posted a strip-sack of QB DeShone Kizer in the third quarter that was recovered by DT Brandon Williams and returned for a 1-yard TD…Vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 23): Registered a sack for the second straight game, bringing down QB Jacoby Brissett for a 4-yard loss in the fourth quarter on third-and-6 as he matched his season high with four tackles (three solo).
2016: Appeared in 13 games with four starts, finishing with 20 tackles (10 solo), a sack, a pass defensed and a forced fumble for a unit that ranked No. 5 in the NFL in rushing defense (89.4 ypg)…Was inactive for three contests…At Jacksonville (Sept. 25): Registered three tackles (all solo), including two tackles for a loss as the Ravens limited the Jaguars to just 216 yards of total offense…At N.Y. Giants (Oct. 16): Made his first NFL start, posting two tackles (one solo) as the defense held the Giants to 38 rushing yards and didn't allow a rushing first down for just the fifth time in franchise history…Vs. Cleveland (Nov. 10): Recorded three tackles (two solo) and a sack/forced fumble when he brought down QB Josh McCown for an 8-yard loss on third down in the third quarter as the Browns were forced to punt.
2015: Played in 15 games as a rookie and recorded 30 tackles (20 solo), 5½ sacks and a pass defensed for a defense that ranked No. 8 in the NFL (337.4 ypg)…Was the league's only rookie to register two multiple-sack games and became just the third rookie in team history (LBs Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs) to accomplish the feat…Was inactive for the season opener…At Oakland (Sept. 20): Made his NFL debut, appearing on 33 snaps on defense and recording a solo tackle…At Pittsburgh (Oct. 1): Posted four tackles (all solo) and two sacks, the first sacks of his career, as he became just the fifth rookie in team history to register two-plus sacks in a game. His first career sack came in the third quarter when he brought down QB Michael Vick for a 6-yard loss. Sacked Vick again on the next play, this time for a 7-yard loss on third down to force a Pittsburgh punt…Vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 15): Blocked K Jason Myers' 26-yard FG attempt in the third quarter…Vs. Kansas City (Dec. 20): Matched his season highs with four tackles (three solo) and two sacks for a defense that allowed 277 total yards. Brought down QB Alex Smith for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter and a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter…Vs. Pittsburgh (Dec. 27): Registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack. Brought down QB Ben Roethlisberger for a 6-yard loss on a third down in the third quarter to force a Pittsburgh punt. Posted the first kickoff return of his career, fielding K Chris Boswell's kick to start the second half and returning it 15 yards to the Baltimore 32…2015 Draft: Was selected by Baltimore with the first pick in the fourth round (No. 122 overall), the first of three selections for the Ravens in the fourth round.
COLLEGE: Started all 24 games in his two seasons at Kentucky, recording 120 tackles (50 solo), 14 tackles for a loss, 10½ sacks, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries…Began his collegiate career at East Mississippi Community College (Scooba, Miss.), where he totaled 66 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 11½ sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defensed and an INT…Earned his degree in community and leadership development…Senior season (2014): Started all 12 games at DE and finished No. 4 on the team with 61 tackles (26 solo), including 7½ tackles for a loss and 4½ sacks…Ranked third on the team in tackles for a loss and second in sacks…Posted a sack in three consecutive games and in four of the final seven contests…Junior season (2013): Started all 12 games at DE and was tied for third on the team with 59 tackles (24 solo), including 6½ tackles for a loss and six sacks with one pass defensed and a fumble recovery…Recorded a career-high three sacks vs. Miami of Ohio (Sept. 7)…Sophomore season (2012): Posted 47 tackles (29 solo), 11 tackles for a loss and 6½ sacks at East Mississippi Community College…Earned second-team All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association…Also was named to the all-region and all-state teams…Added a team-high four forced fumbles, two passes defensed and an INT…Freshman season (2011): Registered 19 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and five sacks as he helped EMCC to a 12-0 mark and the school's first NJCAA national title…Posted three tackles (two solo), a sack and a pass defensed in the NJCAA championship game vs. Arizona Western (Dec. 3).
PERSONAL: Given name Za'Darius Smith...First name is pronounced zuh-DAIR-ee-us…Born in Montgomery, Ala. …Older brother, Bob Meeks, played center at Auburn (1988-91) and for the Denver Broncos (1992-94)…Cousin, Davern Williams, was an all-conference defensive lineman at Troy (1999-2003), was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins (2003), played for the N.Y. Giants (2004), and now is an assistant coach at his alma mater…Niece, Kristi Mokube, played basketball at Florida State and George Mason…High school: Didn't play football until his senior season at Greenville (Ala.) High School…Starred in basketball, lettering all four seasons…Community involvement: Participated in the Green Bay Packers Give Back Bowling Event in 2019 to raise money for the Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association, whose programs champion the needs of abused and neglected children…Gave hundreds of pizzas away to people in his hometown of Greenville in April 2020...Hosts a Fourth of July event each year in his hometown that includes fireworks, air jumps and waterslides.
