Justin Smith is retiring from San Francisco 49ers

Justin Smith, a 14-year veteran in the NFL, has announced that he is retiring from the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith has officially announced he is retiring from the NFL. The defensive end played 14 seasons, making five trips to the Pro bowl while earning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011. Smith is the third San Francisco 49ers played to retire this year, along with inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland.

After being drafted fourth-overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2001 NFL Draft, Smith became an immediate impact-player. He spent seven seasons in Cincinnati where he tallied 43.5 sacks and 314 tackles. He then played his lastt seven years with the 49ers where he dominated against both the run and pass. Smith excelled as a pass-rusher and was known for his physicality in the trenches. His retirement is a huge loss for San Francisco, which has had trouble keeping together its core group of players from its stretch of three straight NFC title games.

Last year was anything but successful for the 49ers, and they have now lost three guys who were instrumental in any success they used to have. Patrick Willis announced that he was retiring earlier this year. Additionally, Chris Borland retired from football at 24 years old because of a fear of long term brain trauma. The 49ers have now lost a third guy with Justin Smith.

With Smith’s retirement, things are looking far from bright in San Francisco. It’s a sad day when we have to see our favorite players go. It seemed that Smith would never let anyone get the best of him on the field. And that age wouldn’t be able to effect the 14-year veteran. But it catches up with all of us, so Justin Smith is now retiring from the game of football at the age of 35 years old.

The 49ers are going to have a rough time recovering from the mass exodus that has taken place this offseason. San Francisco still has Aldon Smith and Eric Reid, but much of the defense that became a force under former head coach Jim Harbaugh is gone.

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