VIDEO: Packers Star Za'Darius Smith and Pro Bowl Teammates Honor Kobe Bryant With Group Celebration
By Jackson Thompson
Respect for the late Kobe Bryant continues to manifest in this year's NFL Pro Bowl. NFC players, led by Green Bay Packers OLB Za'Darius Smith, performed a group celebration, mimicking Bryant's iconic shot on Sunday.
Za’Darius Smith and his NFC teammates honor Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/sIWgFrE1nB
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) January 26, 2020
Smith was joined by a number of defensive players across the NFC in the celebration after a third-down stop against the AFC offense. Smith and his NFC teammates were informed in the locker room via phone call by Seahawks QB Russell Wilson that Bryant had died just prior to Sunday's Pro Bowl.
"Kobe always meant something special to me."@tae15adams & @TheRealZSmith both honored Kobe Bryant in the #ProBowl. pic.twitter.com/3qQkI3hVfX
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 26, 2020
Smith was joined in paying on-field tribute to Bryant by Packers teammate Davante Adams. After scoring a touchdown for the NFC, Adams pointed to the sky, then made a hand gesture with two fingers, then four fingers in honor of Kobe's No. 24.
Davante Adams scores a touchdown, points to the sky, then throws up the 2-4 for Kobe Bryant (and then dunked the ball over the goalpost) pic.twitter.com/C7hrRYRgWH
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 26, 2020
As one of the highest-profile American athletes of the last many decades, Bryant was a role model for athletes across all sports, and inspired multiple generations of fans around the world.