Two of the best Smiths in the NFL are on the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay's defense has been anchored by linebacker Za'Darius Smith and defensive lineman Preston Smith for three years, and the team would not be where it is without them.
Za'Darius and Preston have always been mistaken for brothers because of their shared surname, but are the two Smiths related?
Preston Smith and Zadarius Smith have been teammates for three seasons with the Packers.
When he graduated from college in 2015, both Zadarius and Preston were in the same draft class. Preston was selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, while Zadarius was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round.
In 2019, Smith joined the Packers as a couple after spending four years with the teams that drafted him. Since then he has been a key member of the Defense of Green Bay.
Preston collected a total of 16 sacks in his first two years with the Packers, while Zadarius made the Pro Bowl in both years. As a result of a long-term back injury, Zadarius has only played one game this season. Preston, on the other hand, appeared in 16 games during the regular season and collected nine sacks.
Green Bay Packers Preston Smith and Zaderius Smith celebrate their team's victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Quinn Harris / Getty Images
Preston and Zadarius are so much more than NFL teammates. On and off the field, they are best friends, but they are not related in any way.
They first met at Mississippi State University during a visit to college. Preston continued to play for Mississippi State University, while Zadarius decided to attend East Mississippi Community College. They kept in touch during their college career, and a few years later they joined the Packers as a team.
Smith is "like a brother"
Despite the fact that Zadarius and Preston are not related, they share a special bond that extends well beyond football.
In 2019, Preston said, "Me and Zadarius are like brothers." "Apart from football, we talk about a lot of things." We discuss life in general. Of course, we talk about football, as well as whatever comes to mind. We discuss topics such as How can we help this team improve? What can we do to help each other improve our lives? How can we improve our on-field communication to help protect each other and this? How can I help make this defense great, so that we can reach our full potential and be the best? We only discuss a wide range of topics.
"Before we were friends in the NFL, Zadarius and I were friends. It's great to be on the same team with someone you can relate to, who you've known for a long time; it's easier for us to communicate and so much more." Don't be afraid to discuss things."