Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Za’Darius Smith has retired from the NFL six games into this season, he announced Monday.

Smith recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in five games played in his first season with the Eagles. His retirement comes just over a month after he signed with Philadelphia on Sept. 5.

“I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected,” Smith, 33, wrote in an Instagram post . “Who would’ve thought that a kid from Greenville, AL, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years!

“As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me. The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me for

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