PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith announced his retirement on social media Monday.

Smith informed the team of his decision Monday morning, a league source said, marking a sudden departure for a productive player at a position of need for Philadelphia.

"I knew this day would come -- but now that it's here, l'm feeling so many emotions I never expected," he wrote on Instagram .

"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 forever."

The Eagles came into the season w

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