National Football League

49ers DE Justin Smith announces he is retiring

Published May. 18, 2015 4:54 p.m. ET

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By Tim Weaver

Given the way that their offseason has unfolded thus far, this should hardly come as a surprise to San Francisco 49ers fans - Justin Smith is indeed planning to retire.

Niners general manager Trent Baalke had a meeting with Smith last week, but apparently he wasn’t able to convince the team’s long-time defensive end and five-time Pro Bowler to stick around.

Smith has been playing in the NFL since 2001.

While many fans will be understandably upset by Smith’s decision given the other disasters the team has suffered since the end of the 2014 season, I would have been very surprised if he had decided to continue playing.

Nobody wants to be part of a rebuilding project, especially that late in their career.

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