Packers' Za'Darius Smith sends heartfelt message to sick mother of equipment staffer after sack

·Staff writer

Updated 24 November 2019 at 9:44 pm

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith had a plan for his first sack against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. And he executed it to perfection.

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After taking down the Niners’ Jimmy Garoppolo early in the second quarter, Smith immediately walked toward the end zone and lifted his jersey to reveal a message on his T-shirt underneath.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is chased by outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith #55 of the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) — Za'Darius Smith used his first sack of the game to do a good thing. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

“We Heart Eileen.”

WE ❤️ EILEEN@TheRealZSmith | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/sZjOUIdZOl
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 25, 2019

The backstory for the touching message was soon revealed.

“Eileen” is the mother of a member of the Packers’ equipment staff. She is currently battling cancer, leading Smith to plan his message before the game in case he got a sack. Given that he entered the game with 8.5 sacks — tied for seventh in the NFL — that wasn’t a bad bet.

❤️❤️ https://t.co/fdFT0m2o77
— Za'Darius Smith (@TheRealZSmith) November 24, 2019

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