One of the best pass-rushers in the NFL today is paying respect to one of the greatest pass-rushers of all-time on the flight to San Francisco on Saturday.
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, the heart and soul of the Packers’ defense, donned a green-and-gold No. 92 jersey as he boarded the team plane in Green Bay this afternoon.
The now-iconic uniform once belonged to the great Reggie White, who – in the mid-1990s – helped the Packers get to back-to-back Super Bowls and win Super Bowl XXXI.
In 1996, White and Packers vanquished the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. A year later, they took down the top-seeded 49ers in San Francisco to book a trip to Super Bowl XXXII.
White, a 13-time Pro Bowler, finished his career with 198 sacks. He was a transformational figure as the Packers rose from the ashes and re-established themselves as one of the league’s best franchises.
Like White, Smith arrived in Green Bay as a prized free agent. And like White, Smith and his incredible pass-rushing ability has helped reshape the Packers defense.
In his first season with the Packers, Smith produced 13.5 sacks and 37 quarterback hits. He led the NFL in total pressures and pressure rate in 2019.
Can Smith produce a White-like performance for the Packers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday? They made need it to beat the 49ers and advance to Super Bowl LIV.
