**Za'Darius Smith Eager for Reunion Matches Against Packers and Vikings**

Newly minted Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith expressed his excitement about facing his former teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, in the upcoming NFL season. Smith, now with his fifth NFL team, exudes no animosity toward his previous franchises but admits the matchups carry special significance.

Smith shared his thoughts during a media session in Detroit, revealing how the prospect of playing against these familiar rivals played into his decision to join the Lions. "When I got the phone call, they told me I was coming here, I had that in the back of my mind that I get to come back to the North and play these guys again," Smith recounted. While he acknowledges his fond memories with the Packers and the Vikings, he is particularly motivated by the chance to compete against them. "But all is well, I love those teams too, the cheese heads, great fan base. And going to the Vikings with the Skol was big too. But now I'm in the right place...I get to face them twice so I can't wait. It's going to be big."

Za'Darius Smith's NFL journey began as a fourth-round draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. He then moved to the Packers in 2019 and later joined the Vikings in 2022. After a brief stint with the Browns in 2023, Smith is optimistic that the 2024 season with the Detroit Lions could be his most successful yet.