Eagles’ Nolan Smith only had use of one arm in Super Bowl 2025 second half after brutal injury

Eagles’ Nolan Smith only had use of one arm in Super Bowl 2025 second half after brutal injury

Talk about wear and tear.

Eagles pᴀss-rusher Nolan Smith tore his triceps during the biggest game of his life and played through it — even though it meant only using one arm.

NFL Network reported the news Friday evening, describing the 24-year-old’s relentlessness to pull off his first Super Bowl тιтle in a dominant 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025.

The second-year linebacker underwent surgery Wednesday and will be ready to return for the 2025 season.

Nolan Smith Jr. celebrates after beating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win Super Bowl 2025 at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images

According to WIP94, Smith went back to the Eagles locker room about 30 seconds before the rest of the team at halftime.

In the game, he recorded two quarterback hits and no tackles, playing 30 of the Eagles’ 56 defensive snaps.

In the first half, he was a big part of the Eagles’ relentless defense that only allowed the Chiefs to get 23 total yards across the first 30 minutes of Kansas City’s third consecutive Super Bowl appearance — one that it wished turned into a historic three-peat.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (C) hurries a pᴀss against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (R) during the first half of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The four-man pᴀss rush also sacked quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a record six times without blitzing once.

It was the most sacks the star endured in a single game of his career (regular season or playoffs).

Smith, the 30th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, was in a limited role before earning more playing time due to a triceps injury to veteran Brandon Graham.

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) reacts after Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked during the second quarter during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

He made his time worth it.

In the week after Graham was injured up until the Super Bowl, Smith recorded seven sacks.

He also had a career-high 63 snaps in the 55-23 NFC Championship victory over the Commanders.

In his second year, Smith recorded 10.5 sacks, four of which came in the playoffs.

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