Back in the 2019 offseason, the Green Bay Packers went on a rare splurge in free agency, signing veteran defensive players Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith. All three were immediate big-time contributors to the team, helping then-first-year head coach Matt LaFleur lead the team to a 13-3 record and berth in the NFC Championship Game.
Of course, none of those three players are on Green Bay’s roster anymore. It was Za’Darius who left first, disgruntled with the team after not being voted a team captain in 2021. Amos left as a free agent following the 2022 NFL season, and ended up following four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Preston, though, received a second contract from the Packers with the hopes that he would be a veteran leader in their locker room for years to come. Unfortunately, it did not pan out that way.
The Green Bay Packers Traded Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Prior to the 2024 NFL season, LaFleur made the welcomed decision to fire embattled defensive coordinator Joe Barry. In his place, the Packers hired former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley.
From the onset, what was most notable about Hafley’s hiring was that he was going to bring a 4-3 defense to Green Bay. The Packers had been using a 3-4 defensive scheme since Dom Capers was hired as defensive coordinator in 2009.
This meant that Smith, who had been used as an outside linebacker/edge rusher in Barry’s defense was now lining up as a defensive end. Unfortunately, this switch did not translate into the kind of production that had made him the Packers’ 11th all-time franchise leader in sacks.
Smith requested a trade after nine games, stating to the team that he did not feel the current scheme fit his style of play. To their credit, Green Bay traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a seventh round pick.
Former Green Bay Packers Pass Rusher Preston Smith Has Been Released by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh seemed like a good fit for Smith as they run a 3-4 defense. Unfortunately, though, his production did not increase like he thought he would.
The former Packers pass rusher had just 2.0 sacks in eight games with the Steelers and was a healthy inactive for their final game of the season and their postseason game.
On Friday, the Steelers announced they had released Smith:
We have released LB Preston Smith. @BordasLaw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 14, 2025
Smith will be 33 next season and is coming off his worst year since 2020. It will be interesting to see where he lands. That is, if he still wants to play.
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