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Philadelphia Eagles Superstar Apologizes For Unacceptable Offseason Behavior

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Philadelphia Eagles helmet (Photo Via Imagn Images)

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. spoke about his offseason arrest on Monday and took full responsibility for what he did.

Smith talked to reporters after police arrested him on May 15 for driving 135 mph in a 70 mph zone in Georgia. The former top draft pick made no excuses. Instead, he apologized to the Eagles organization and acknowledged that his behavior fell short of the standards expected of him.

“I apologized to the organization, and I’ll make that apology now,” Smith said. “I represent the Eagles no matter where I go, Georgia, Florida, it doesn’t matter. That’s one of the ones that I own up and I apologize for. It’s just like that. We make mistakes and it can’t happen again and that’s unacceptable. I did apologize to (general manager) Howie (Roseman), I did apologize to (owner) Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie, and I can’t let my teammates down like that. They hold me to a different accountability on and off the field.”

The incident was Smith’s first known off-field problem since the Eagles picked him with the 30th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Smith Takes Responsibility While Questions Remain

According to ESPN’s Tim McManus, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said deputies stopped Smith on the interstate at 10:41 p.m. on May 15. Authorities accused him of speeding and reckless driving after they clocked him at 135 mph. Smith posted bond and left custody shortly after the arrest. Officials also issued a future court date.

The arrest drew attention because of a broader pattern involving former University of Georgia players. Georgia players have faced more than 25 driving-related arrests since 2023.

“This is absolutely absurd at this point,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote on X after news of Smith’s arrest surfaced.

Smith built his reputation at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win two national championships. He later joined fellow Georgia standout Jalen Carter in Philadelphia. Both players played key roles during the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning season following the 2024 campaign.

Despite the arrest, the Eagles recently showed confidence in Smith. The team picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, which carries a $13.75 million value.

Smith dealt with injuries during the 2025 season and missed seven weeks due to an arm injury. Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti noted that the setback interrupted Smith’s chance to build on a strong 2024 season that included seven sacks, 40 tackles, and a forced fumble.

For now, Smith appears focused on accountability. He knows he made a mistake, and he knows he must earn back trust moving forward.

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