San Francisco 49ers: Don’t blame turmoil on Justin Smith retirement

By Brian Spaen | May 19, 2015

The San Francisco 49ers got hit with yet another blow on their player personnel when defensive tackle Justin Smith announced his retirement Monday. Unlike the departures such as talent leaving to better pastures or afraid of getting long-term injuries, Smith simply can’t be on the field. Otherwise he would have put the jersey on for his 15th season.

What started Smith’s downturn were multiple injuries in the span of a year. He suffered a left triceps tendon injury during the 2012 season and followed it up with a shoulder injury in 2013. The latter injury Smith didn’t realize happened until the season concluded.

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In fact, Smith played in all 16 regular-season contests and two playoff games in 2013 and was able to reach his fifth Pro Bowl despite his shoulder being broken for the entire duration. It’s that toughness he brought that helped aid the defense to its level of greatness it achieved throughout the Jim Harbaugh years.

Unfortunately, these injuries ultimately led to Smith hanging it up based in an article by Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com.

"Where I play on the right side, all my contact comes on my left shoulder and left side,” he said. “And it doesn’t respond the way I want it to respond anymore. If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do the job. So it’s just time to go."

Smith’s departure truly signifies the end of an era. While he was a staple of a very good defense under former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, he also delivered the boom that jumpstarted the 49ers success.

Back in 2011, San Francisco began the season at 2-1 after grabbing a season-opening victory over the Seattle Seahawks and suffering a heartbreaking loss against the Dallas Cowboys in overtime in their first two home games. They squeaked by in a 13-8 win at the Cincinnati Bengals, but things looked dead in the water when the team was down 23-3 in the third quarter at the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, the 49ers would prevail after scoring three touchdowns and Smith smashed former Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to force a fumble on the potential comeback drive. San Francisco got the ball back and held on to win. The team won six straight games after that before losing the Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith loved every minute of the success they had (via David Fucillo of Niners Nation).

"You know, the thing about that was we just got a big win on the road and we just got on a roll after there. We kind of went on a three year roll. We had a hell-of-a team and we had a hell-of-a lot of fun playing together. That’s what it’s all about."

The 14-year career ends with 880 total tackles, 87 quarterback sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Smith began his career in 2001 with the Bengals and then signed a six-year deal with the 49ers in 2008. All five of his Pro Bowls he made in San Francisco.

Perhaps that’s why more 49ers fans and everybody that knows Smith calls him “Cowboy.” He did everything he could to play and he will always be one of the toughest players in NFL history. None of the drama off the field would have kept him away – with limited years remaining, he was going to end things in San Francisco. Injuries just simply took their toll on the 35-year-old.

Next: 49ers not looking so fine

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