Za’Darius Smith, a former Green Bay Packers player, has been on a wacky tour of the NFC North. Smith began his career with the Green Bay Packers before the 2019 season and moved to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 following a contentious contract dispute.
After one year with the Vikings, Smith was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he spent the rest of the season pleading for a return to the division so he could exact revenge on both of his former employers. His wish was granted when he was dealt to the Detroit Lions in November, and he offered a cringe-worthy moment when he ripped the Packers following a victory last December.
But Smith managed to create an even more embarrassing scene even after the Lions’ season was over.
Za’Darius Smith shares his division championship ring on Instagram.
Smith resorted to social media on Monday to showcase his new piece of jewelry. While this is common for a player when the season ends, the 32-year-old’s Instagram post hit a new low as it was a photo of his NFC North championship ring.
There aren’t enough words to describe how amazing this photograph is. It was not only from the coasts of Cancun, where the Lions were exiled following a 45-31 defeat to the Washington Commanders. It was also a metaphor of how Detroit fell short, finishing 15-2 and earning the NFC’s top seed only to lose their first playoff game.
Smith also only spent half of the season with Detroit, having arrived when Aidan Hutchinson injured his tibia and fibula in October. To act like “Mr. Lion” after spending two months with the team is incredibly humorous and may be another attempt to convince the Lions to keep him around in 2025 – especially with the caption “The ring before the ring.”
The 32-year-old’s contract may prohibit that, but it would be an appropriate conclusion given how all of his prior stints in the division have ended. Smith’s adventure may finish in Chicago, but he will always have the division title ring he earned during his brief time in Detroit.